Elderly Naples Couple Charged with Selling Stolen Items on eBay; pleads guilty

NAPLES, Fla. – An elderly Naples couple pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud – each now faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, Richard and Gail Murtaugh stole merchandise from large retailers and grocery stores in Collier and Lee counties. These items will be sold on their eBay store called “dickandgail”.

Investigators say that in 2021 and 2022, the Murtaughs were seen on surveillance video stealing thousands of dollars worth of items, including the following:

• personal hygiene products
• care articles
• nicotine products
• teeth whitening
• other dental care items
• over-the-counter medicines

The plea agreement states that the couple made $175,621.31 on eBay selling stolen goods.
In April 2022, the United States Postal Inspection Service served a warrant on the Murtaugh home on the island of Capri in Naples.

Inspectors found thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise that appeared to be the same or similar to what the Murtaughs had stolen from various stores.

The state attorney’s office says Murtaugh’s iPads were also searched.

Investigators say they found photos on the device that matched photos of stolen items at Murtaugh’s eBay store.

As part of their guilty plea, the State Attorney’s Office says the Murtaughs agreed to forfeit $175,621.31.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.