A Butler pawnshop dealer is accused of buying stolen goods and precious metals without a license.

Butler police allege Nicholas B. Defelice, 22, who operates the Nic-It store on South Chestnut Street, also failed to maintain required records.

State law requires all pawn shops and jewelry stores dealing in second hand goods to report all precious metal purchases with the name, age and address of the seller.

Police on Tuesday filed three misdemeanor charges against Defelice after he purchased a gold necklace from a police informant last month.

The undercover investigation began after authorities received information that the store was illegally purchasing goods, including some that were believed stolen, according to a police report.

Officers also suspected Defelice was buying gold and silver without a license.

According to the store’s website, “We want to offer instant cash or other methods for mostly all valuable items that people would like to sell,”

Police on May 7 set up a sting using an informant, who went into the defendant’s store to sell a gold necklace, the report said.

Officers took the informants to the business. After 20 minutes, the informant returned to awaiting police with $20 that he received from Defelice for the necklace.

The informant told police that it took so long in the store because the first customer in line was trying to sell a stolen Apple iPhone, the report said.

Defelice allegedly told the man that he would buy the phone if he could unlock it.

Police on June 9 searched the store as part of the investigation, and recovered a stolen television, the report said.

Police charged Defelice with being a public nuisance and an unlicensed dealer, and for failing to maintain a record of transactions.

His preliminary hearing is set for July at the office of District Judge Pete Shaffer.

The city treasurer’s office, meanwhile, would review the defendant’s mercantile license, police said.