Rochester, NY: 4 men sentenced for $435K Discover credit card Theft Ring
Four Rochester men have been sentenced for running an identity theft ring that rang up more than $400,000 in fraudulent credit card purchases. The U.S. attorney's office says Shawn Smith, Odell Edwards, Sebastian Ferrell and Courtney Campbell-Cooper have received federal prison sentences ranging from more than two years to nearly 6½ years. Prosecutors say the Secret Service started an investigation two years ago this month into reports of access device fraud and identity theft in the Rochester area. U.S. Postal Service inspectors and local police were also involved in the probe into fraudulently obtained credit cards issued by Discover. Officials say the four men used authorized credit card user's information to obtain additional cards that were used to make store purchases and cash withdrawals totaling more than $435,000. therepublic.com

Former Mrs. America, Jennifer Susan Kline Accused of Swindling Macy's
A former Mrs. America beauty queen is possibly facing up to 10 years in prison after allegedly making more than $5,000 worth of fraudulent returns to a Macy's department store. Authorities say Jennifer Susan Kline spent thousands of dollars on designer clothes at a Macy's store in Edina, Minnesota, in November. About a week later, the 1988 Mrs. America went to two different Macy's locations to return the clothes and collected a $5,500 refund, according to police. But a Macy's employee says the 50-year-old mother of two did not return the correct items, according to a police complaint. Macy's also alleged in the complaint that the clothes that were returned were dirty and showed signs of wear. Police also searched Kline's Wayzata, Minnesota, home and said they found 24 items that Kline had supposedly returned. "The tags were taken off and were placed onto clothes that looked similar, but were not the same name brand," Sgt. Kevin Rofidal of the Edina Police Department told ABC News. "There was more than just grabbing merchandise and walking out the door." abcnews.go

Abington, PA: TJ Maxx employee sentenced to 2 years for theft of $4,235
A Philadelphia man will go to jail for ripping off an Abington store where he worked. Ricardo Donte Griffin, 39, received an 11½- to 23-month sentence in Montgomery County prison Friday on a felony retail theft charge for scamming $4,235 worth of merchandise from T.J. Maxx on Old York Road. Griffin also will have to serve a two-year probation sentence once he completes his parole time and pays full restitution. Friends of Griffin would come through his line with a large amount of merchandise. Griffin would then ring up the merchandise, cancel it and then ring up just one item, the complaint said. The person would pay for the one item and then exit the store with everything. theintell.com

Surveillance video captures suspects stealing $3,000 of designer eyewear
Police are looking for two women who were caught on camera stealing thousands of dollars worth of designer frames from an eyeglass store at the St. Johns Town Center Tuesday. The owners of Vision Express said it happened during business hours, while multiple people were in the store. When one owner noticed several frames were missing on the wall, he checked the security camera footage and saw everything on tape. Within minutes, Aubrey Hatcher, Optical Rep & Lab Manager said almost $3,000 worth of merchandise was taken from the store and the lesson is to always keep a close watch. news4jax.com

Traverse City, MI: Desperate Couple turns to ORC to fund upcoming baby bills
An Interlochen couple turned to shoplifting from Wal-Mart to raise funds for an upcoming birth. John Michael Lawrence, 26, and Megan Elizabeth Moore, 20, turned themselves in to authorities this week on warrants for organized retail crime and first-degree retail fraud. Grand Traverse County sheriff's Lt. Brian Giddis said the charges stem from accusations the couple stole baby formula, diapers and other items from Wal-Mart in September and October. He said the pair then sold many items online for cash. "To get money because she's expecting a baby," Giddis said. Eighty-sixth District Court documents tallied the total value stolen at $2,435.25. record-eagle.com

Simpsonville, SC: Shoplifting turns into Armed Robbery at Upstate Walmart store Simpsonville police responded Wednesday to a Walmart store after they say a shoplifter attacked an employee with a knife. Police said that a Walmart employee tried to stop a suspected shoplifter from pushing a cart with weed eater, chain saw and other items out of the store around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the shoplifter attacked the store employee with a knife. The employee has been taken to a hospital for treatment of the knife wound to the arm. live5news.com