$7M in shoplifting by Bogdanov family leads to no bail.

• Position: News

$7M in shoplifting

by Bogdanov family

leads to no bail

The heads of a suburban Chicago family accused of stealing $7 million in goods in a decade-long, multistate shoplifting spree will stay in jail pending trial because they are flight risks, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Branko Bogdanov, 58, and his wife, Lela Bogdanov, 52, allegedly operated in tandem with their daughter to pilfer merchandise and sell it on eBay. They were arrested last week at their home in a wealthy Northbrook neighborhood.

Prosecutor Renato Marriotti said the husband and wife emigrated from what was then Yugoslavia and are in the U.S. illegally. Both, he said, had arrest records.

''This defendant has nothing to lose,'' Mariotti said at Monday's detention hearing, referring to the husband. ''I think if you let him go ... he'll disappear.''

He also accused Branko Bogdanov of misleading officials by claiming he's $28,500 in debt. In fact, Mariotti said, he owns his $1.3 million house and 12 vehicles, including a Lexus and Corvette.

Separately, Mariotti...