A New York University freshman student has been accused of stealing approximately $51,000 worth of luxury items from her roommate and selling them online for a fraction of their value. The accused, Kaitlyn Fung, 18, allegedly pilfered high-end goods from her roommate, Aurora Agapov, whose father is a wealthy Russian mining magnate with ties to Vladimir Putin.
The allegations surfaced in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, where Agapov, a 19-year-old arts major originally from London, detailed the betrayal. Agapov's father, Andre Agapov, is the president and CEO of Rusoro Mining Limited, a gold mining company, and is reportedly worth about $75 million. The stolen items, which included designer brands such as Gucci, Chanel, and Bvlgari, were gifts from Agapov's mother and held significant sentimental value.
"My heart dropped," Agapov told The New York Post, recounting the moment she discovered a receipt from The Real Real listing her missing items in Fung's possession. "We spoke pretty much every day. I'd say we didn't really have any falling outs or anything. If anything our relationship got better towards the second semester."
The two roommates were reportedly close friends until Agapov began noticing her possessions disappearing. Suspicion fell on Fung after Agapov found the consignment receipt in her pocketbook, leading to the revelation that Fung had been selling the stolen items through The Real Real, a consignment retailer with both an app and a physical store in Soho.
#postoftheday (season 4):
Aurora Agapov, 19, has accused her roommate and 'good friend,' Kaitlyn Fung, 18, of stealing approximately $51,000 worth of her designer jewelry and items goods. https://t.co/yzKjz1iaFP pic.twitter.com/UA1OuMp4k3 — Cruley Alexa (@cruleyalexa1996) June 17, 2024
Fung's alleged theft included a Bvlgari necklace worth $13,000, sold for a mere $2,485, and a Chanel bracelet valued at $2,000, sold for just $175. Among the items listed for sale but unsold were a Solange Azagury 18K ruby ring worth $23,765, a Celine Nanno tote valued at $3,300, and a Chanel purse priced at $4,000.
Upon realizing the extent of the theft, Agapov confronted Fung and moved her belongings out of their dorm room at NYU's Founders Hall on East 12th Street. "I didn't sleep that night," Agapov said. "My mother gifted me those things. They mean a lot to me."
Fung was arrested on May 2 on a third-degree grand larceny charge and subsequently released pending further legal proceedings. The criminal case against her is ongoing.
Agapov's lawsuit seeks $51,000 in damages and the return of any stolen, but unsold, items. When Agapov went to The Real Real's store to reclaim her belongings, she was informed that Fung's mother had already collected them.
Adidas spokesperson John Beckman commented on the incident, stating that the university was prohibited by law from revealing disciplinary actions against individual students but noted that stealing from a roommate is "a lousy thing to do, and a rarity among the 12,000 students we have in student housing." Typically, such actions result in suspension.
The Real Real responded by emphasizing their commitment to ensuring consignors have the right to sell items and that they are not stolen. "If we receive any information that items might be stolen, we act fast by removing them from the site and starting an investigation," a spokesperson said in a statement.
