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$16M ORC ringleader & fence guilty on 31
counts in 'Operation Cash Back'
three-year investigation in Denver. N.C. A Lincoln
County businessman
accused of being at the center of a multimillion-dollar retail theft ring
collapsed in federal court Tuesday as his conviction was being read. Steve Hale
appeared to suffer a seizure, according to his attorney, Noell Tin of Charlotte.
Hale is the owner of Double D Distributing in Denver, N.C. Hale was indicted in
October as part of “Operation Cash Back,” a three-year investigation into a
professional shoplifting ring that has already sent six people to prison for
sentences as long as seven years. The shoplifters are believed to have been
responsible for up to $16 million in stolen goods, mostly over-the-counter
nonprescription drugs, and health and beauty products, between 2006 and 2011.
Hale was accused of selling the products, often at half their normal wholesale
prices, to in- and out-of-state customers. Federal prosecutors also charged him
with filing fraudulent tax returns and other financial irregularities. According
to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, his convictions are punishable by at least 10
years in prison. (Source
charlotteobserver.com)
 ORC
ring of four arrested in Portland hitting T.J. Maxx and Ann Taylor
stores
Prosecutors have filed criminal charges against four people who police have
linked to a retail theft ring. Diamond Dugas, 32, Shannvonday Holmes, 34, Andre
Lavert, 32, and April Taylor, 34, face one count each of first-degree theft and
second-degree theft. Police said they found items from T.J. Maxx worth $989.94
and items from Ann Taylor valued at $1,464.50. Officers later learned that the
group had also stolen from the Ann Taylor store at Lloyd Center. Police said
when the employee at Ann Taylor tried to confront the group, they ran from the
store. (Source
koin.com)
South Florida woman steals
$160,000 from employer to fund Nordstrom shopping
spree; convicted of a similar crime two years ago and sentenced to
probation
She was a great customer, but a lousy employee. Katty Hernandez, 27, spent tens
of thousands of dollars on luxury purses, shoes and other items from Nordstrom
and other high end stores by using her employer's identification and bank
account. Hernandez's charges include grand theft, felony organized scheme to
defraud over $50,000, felony money laundering and fraudulently using
someone's
identification. (Source
nydailynews.com)
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