A national crime ring based in Manhattan and Brooklyn has been taken down. NY1 Criminal Justice Reporter Dean Meminger tells us the crew allegedly made millions selling stolen electronics on major websites.

Some people call it the five-finger discount, stealing merchandise from a store.

But state law enforcement officials say an alleged crew took shoplifting to an extreme, making millions of dollars off of stolen electronics.

"Some of the materials here included printer ink cartridges, personal financial management software, consumer electronics like GPS devices and fitness smart watches," New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday.

The nearly year-long investigation was called "Operation Sticky Fingers."

A dozen people are charged with selling $12 million in stolen electronics over five years.

Officials say different groups traveled around the country to steal from large retailers like Staples, Target, Office Depot, and Best Buy.

They allegedly wore vests with secret pockets to hide the goods and used electronic devices that neutralized the stores' electronic security systems.

George Athanasatos, who lives in Brooklyn, allegedly managed the ring.

"Athanasatos also provided some crew members with credit cards, which they used to purchase plane tickets, rent cars, and hotels on their missions," Schneiderman said. "Then, they would submit travel expense forms on their return. This was run very much like a business."

Authorities say Richard Rimbaugh, who lives on West 112th St. in Manhattan, was the ringleader.

The thieves allegedly sent him merchandise, and he sold the goods on Amazon and eBay.

Investigators say they recovered nearly $8 million from the homes and bank accounts of Rimbaugh and other alleged ring members.

Law enforcement officials say Rimbaugh, aka The General, has been doing this sort of thing since the 1980s. They accuse him of really stepping up his operation in the last few years.

"While our investigators and officers were securing the premises, at that time UPS showed up with five more boxes of merchandise for him," Schneiderman said.

The accused pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon. Depending on their roles, they face maximum sentences of eight to 25 years in prison.