WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, says a group of five men and one woman stole more than $2 million worth of health and beauty products across Florida.
The investigation began in February of 2019 and spanned across 14 counties in the state.
In less than six weeks, investigators were able to identify and charge six involved in the ring. Five of those suspects have been arrested.
One man, Michael Jimenez, is still wanted in connection to the racketeering scheme. Investigators believe he is still in Florida.
According to the affidavits, the suspects would go into large retailers at least four to five times week and steal about $15,000 in merchandise.
Over the course of one week that totaled up to dozens of businesses and up to $200,000 worth of retail.
Reports show the suspects then re-sold the goods and also shipped them off to Cuba for re-sale.
The investigation began when Publix organized retail crime investigators contacted PCSO in reference to a group of suspects who were committing retail thefts in their stores, stealing mainly health and beauty items such as dental whitening strips, over the counter medications, electric toothbrushes, and razors, as well as clothing and shoes, and then selling them on the black market.
The suspects mainly used backpacks and soft-sided coolers to conceal and steal the merchandise.
Sheriff Judd briefing the media about a large-scale investigation - 6 organized retail theft suspects arrested and charged with felony racketeering.
— Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff) May 8, 2019
on FB live: https://t.co/rKNE28jFQl
news release: https://t.co/Et4LDsoeM3
search warrant video:https://t.co/MlOi1e9po5 pic.twitter.com/P5LNms1Ah0
Detectives worked with loss prevention personnel at each store, as well as the Tampa Bay Regional Intelligence Center (TBRIC), Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Tampa Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Statewide Prosecutor for the Office of the Attorney General Ashley Moody. They obtained six arrests warrants and nine search warrants.
"Partnerships are what make the difference between a good investigation, and a great one. When we work together not just with other law enforcement agencies, but with our retail loss prevention professionals, we can successfully apprehend and prosecute those who make their living stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise and dealing in stolen property. Not a single one of these suspects actually has a job. Upon their arrests, they all said they were 'self-employed.' We're happy to announce that their new occupation is 'jail inmate,'" said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
The crimes were committed at the following businesses throughout the counties of Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter, Pasco, Pinellas, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough, St. Lucie, and Lee:
- Burlington
- CVS
- JC Penney
- Publix
- Walgreens
- Winn-Dixie (Southeastern Grocers)
Those charged on Friday, May 3, 2019, were:
33-year-old Santiago Martinez Jorrin of Royal Sand Circle in Tampa; arrested and charged with 1 count cheating or gross fraud (F-3); 2 counts grand theft (F-3); 1 count dealing in stolen property (F-2); 1 count criminal conspiracy to violate racket act (F-1); and 1 count racketeering (F-1). His criminal history includes 26 felonies and 6 misdemeanors, with charges such as aggravated battery, petit theft, retail theft, grand theft, possession/use of anti-shoplifting device, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, failure to appear, and tampering with a witness. He was just released on bond from the HCSO jail in February 2019, for retail theft, grand theft, tampering with a witness, aggravated battery, and resisting arrest. During the search warrant, detectives found paperwork confirming his enrollment in the government food stamp program.
47-year-old Tomas Rodriguez Oliva of Country Square Court inTampa; arrested and charged with 1 count cheating or gross fraud (F-3); 3 counts grand theft (F-3); 1 count dealing in stolen property (F-2); 1 count criminal conspiracy to violate racket act (F-1); and 1 count racketeering (F-1). During the search warrant, detectives found paperwork confirming his enrollment in the government food stamp program.
43-year-old Reynel Hernandez Perdomo of Palm Way in Tampa; arrested and charged with 1 count cheating or gross fraud (F-3); 1 count director of dealing in stolen property (F-1); 1 count criminal conspiracy to violate racket act (F-1); and 1 count racketeering (F-1).
31-year-old Dayron Ramon Torres of West Waters Avenue in Tampa; owner of Star Barbershop, fencing location; arrested and charged with 1 count cheating or gross fraud (F-3); 1 count dealing in stolen property (F-2); and 1 count criminal conspiracy to violate racket act (F-1).
34-year-old Danays Acosta Benitez of West Waters Avenue in Tampa; owner of Cuba la Bella, fencing location; arrested and charged with 1 count cheating or gross fraud (F-3); 1 count dealing in stolen property (F-2); and 1 count criminal conspiracy to violate racket act (F-1). Her criminal history includes a previous arrest in Osceola County for petit theft.
WANTED | 32-year-old Michael Baladron Jimenez of West Aileen Street in Tampa; charged via warrant with 1 count cheating or gross fraud (F-3); 3 counts grand theft (F-3); 1 count possession of antitheft device (F-3); 1 count dealing in stolen property (F-2); 1 count criminal conspiracy to violate racket act (F-1); and 1 count racketeering (F-1). His criminal history includes 7 felonies and 2 misdemeanors, with charges such as grand theft, resisting arrest, failure to appear, and DWLSR.