Baltimore, Maryland Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said Monday that four individuals have been charged with involvement in an organized retail crime ring that is accused of conducting 37 crimes in six counties in Maryland, causing losses of around $800,000. Targeting establishments during work hours, the crimes—which were characterized as flash mob-style thefts—involved expensive items like perfumes and designer sunglasses.
The defendants are accused of several crimes: Samuel Cordell Whitmire, Jr., 29, of Alexandria, Virginia; Antonio William Polite, 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland; Taquan Anthony Neal, 25, of District Heights, Maryland; and Donte Bernard Shaw, 34, of Washington, D.C. These include individual theft and burglary offenses, second-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit theft, involvement in a criminal organization, and theft schemes exceeding $100,000. Shaw is also accused of unlawfully possessing a firearm that is subject to regulations.
Targeting retail establishments in Howard, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, and Prince George’s Counties, the organization allegedly started its operations in September 2023, according to authorities. Sunglass Hut, Ulta Beauty, GameStop, and Dick’s Sporting Goods are among the companies affected by the thefts. The group, according to the prosecution, overloaded store staff by flooding in, cramming bags full of goods, and then running away. According to reports, some thefts took place through burglaries after business hours.
Attorney General Brown stated in a statement that organized retail crimes do not have no victims. In addition to costing industrious workers their jobs, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from businesses can result in higher costs for necessities for Marylanders.
Investigators claim that the stolen products were sold both in-person and online marketplaces. With support from other agencies, the investigation was headed by the Gaithersburg and Montgomery County Police Departments. According to Gaithersburg Police Chief Mark Sorka, an investigation of this size necessitates a great deal of work and cooperation.
The Howard County Circuit Court will prosecute the cases.
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