Suspect behind alleged crime ring arraigned

BOSTON (WHDH) -- The man accused of running an illegal operation out of Boston’s Downtown Crossing was charged in court Friday.

Shahab “David” Yousheei, 36, of Brighton, faces 10 charges including identity theft, receiving counterfeit cash and making fake credit cards.

The arraignment was the result of a six-month undercover investigation. The attorney general said she has a mountain of evidence, including audio and video surveillance.

Prosecutors claim Yousheei operated out of a kiosk inside a jewelry store front on Washington Street where he sold high-end products such as iPhones, which he purchased with stolen credit.

State police raided the store Thursday and found more than $135,000 cash in several safes.

In court Friday, prosecutors claimed Yousheei was upset someone had stolen from him and he allegedly asked an undercover detective about hiring a hit man.

“He had been ‘rolled’ for $200,000. Does the undercover officer know anybody who could ‘take care’ of someone,” said assistant attorney general Will Freeman.

Yousheei’s attorney said the father of six should never have been charged with that. Police said Yousheei told the undercover detective he liked to deal large amounts of cocaine.

“There’s a reason that’s not charged and you can use your common sense. There’s a reason why that stuff was not charged,” said Thomas Kaplanes, Yousheei’s attorney.

Yousheei’s father, uncle and friends and family members were in court to support him, but they left without commenting.

Yousheei’s bail was set at $60,000 cash.