Gambino Mobster Charged In $1.7 Million Chanel Boutique Heist

NEW YORK, NY— Thomas “Tommy” Dono, a Gambino crime family soldier, faces charges in connection with a $1.7 million burglary of Chanel’s Manhattan flagship store, according to prosecutors.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Dono directed a 10-person crew during a three-hour break-in at the luxury retailer’s East 57th Street location, beginning around 10:14 p.m. on July 13, 2024.

Prosecutors allege Dono monitored the operation from a white minivan parked outside the store.

According to court filings, he left the scene around 1:25 a.m. on July 14, followed by a white Sprinter van carrying stolen merchandise.

The crew removed roughly 300 items from a stockroom after entering through a ceiling hatch, according to investigators.

Surveillance video reviewed by police allegedly shows several individuals dressed as construction workers using a rear fire escape to move bags of goods into an alley behind the store.

Authorities said the stolen items were transported to an East 58th Street building that was under construction, then loaded into vehicles.

None of the merchandise has been recovered, according to court records.

Dono pleaded not guilty to grand larceny on May 19.

A judge set his bond at $300,000, below the amount requested by prosecutors. The case remains under investigation, and authorities said additional arrests are expected.

Investigators identified Dono early in the inquiry, citing surveillance footage and his physical characteristics, including the loss of his left arm.

Court documents and law enforcement sources also linked Dono to earlier criminal cases, including a 2008 racketeering indictment that referenced his alleged role in organized crime activities tied to the Gambino family.

He previously resolved a federal case involving a 1998 killing with a plea agreement that included a 15-year prison sentence and was released in 2021, according to those records.

Prosecutors said Dono’s alleged involvement in the Chanel burglary was uncovered through surveillance video and vehicle tracking tied to a Brooklyn residence used during the operation.