8 people arrested in Jacksonville-based organized retail theft ring
Jacksonville FL May 30 2018
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has successfully arrested eight people in connection with an organized retail theft ring that they believe stole more than $500,000 worth of merchandise.
Following a two-year investigation which involved undercover officers, police arrested Natasha Soukseunchay, Latoya Shurman, Jennifer Upton, Chiquita Moorehead, Brian Harris, Deedra Berry, Dantavia Berry and the man they credit with being the leader of the ring, Antoun “Tony” Arbaji.
Sheriff Mike Williams told the media in a press conference that Arbaji sold upwards of $300,000 dollars of stolen merchandise on websites he maintained.
He would pay people for the stolen items either $10 per item or 20% of the total worth. Sherriff Williams said the suspects would enter stores with a large box and conceal stolen items within it and would walk out only having paid for the item printed on the box or having not paid at all.
“There’s a method that these suspects know what stores do or won’t do and they take advantage of that at the end of the day,” said Williams.
This investigation was difficult and took two years due to the merchandise being sold not only online but also across state lines. The investigation led police as far away as Tallahassee and St. Marys, Georgia and everywhere in between, according to the Sheriff.
When police arrest Arbaji they seized $53,000 in stolen merchandise and $11,000 in cash.
Arbaji has been charged with 77 counts:
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)
6 counts of dealing in stolen property
1 count dealing in stolen property via the internet
1 count possession of ammunition by a convicted felon
54 counts of grand theft
16 counts of petit theft
Soukseunchay has been charged with:
RICO
1 count of dealing in stolen property
1 count grant theft
Shurman is charged with:
RICO
7 counts grand theft
1 count petit theft
Upton is charged with:
RICO
20 counts of grand theft
Moorehead is charged with:
4 counts of grand theft
Harris is charged with:
RICO
6 counts of grand theft
Deedra Berry is charged with:
RICO
24 counts grand theft
12 counts of petit theft
Dantavia Berry is charged with:
RICO
16 counts of grand theft
5 counts petit theft
First Coast News
