Model allegedly behind $1M SoHo designer heist dons $6K outfit while denying charges

A 21-year-old fashion model donned a nearly $6,000 runway-ready designer gettup into court on Tuesday to deny charges he carried out a $1 million heist of a high-end boutique in SoHo. Abdallah Diaby strutted his way through Manhattan Supreme Court sporting a slew of John Varvatos necklaces that — according to a store rep — retail for a combined total of $3,174. On top of his heavy neck load, Diaby wore $775 Saint Lauren high-top sneakers, $1,500 yellow Balmain biker jeans and a green, plaid Lacoste dress shirt to his arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of stolen property and other charges. Diaby, a Bronx native, was arrested on Feb.19 after security camera footage linked him to a four-person heist during the early morning hours on Dec.1, 2025 inside Spring Street’s 4Gseller designer boutique, Manhattan prosecutors said.

The three other suspects are still on the lam. The crew rolled up to the ritzy SoHo shop in a silver Ford SUV, wearing construction vests and black clothing as they climbed scaffolding with a ladder to break into the store, according to prosecutors. The store’s security footage caught the whole heist. 4Gseller owner Tommy Macari said the brazen bandits had snatched up a lot of one-of-one custom pieces. “Kind of like the movies, to be honest,” Macari said. “They were just dropping them off the balcony and someone was running it to the car.” Cops said the crooks ran off with 20 St. Laurent jackets, 30 designer handbags and other high-end merchandise.

Diaby is represented by TWO MGMT, a Big Apple modeling agency which boasts many top-tier clients. He recently modeled in shoots for a Sinclair Global and Puma collaboration as well as for StockX. The alleged thief was similarly stylishly dressed when first appearing in court after his February arrest. Diaby been granted supervised release without bail since as the non-violent charges are not eligible for bail in New York state.