Seven Charged in Multi-County Heist Operation that Trafficked Stolen Alarms from Florida to Texas
Florida law enforcement has dismantled a sophisticated, multi-county criminal enterprise responsible for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of smoke detectors from The Home Depot.
The operation, spearheaded by Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, resulted in felony charges for seven defendants who allegedly orchestrated at least 44 thefts across 17 Florida counties.
The stolen merchandise, estimated by The Home Depot to total more than $800,000, was not a small-time operation.
Investigators uncovered a complex trafficking route that moved the devices through a Hillsborough County storage unit, where $78,000 in stolen goods was recovered, before heading to a large warehouse in Houston, Texas.
A subsequent search by the Houston Police located an additional estimated $300,000 worth of product at the Texas facility.
“This operation is the result of a great partnership between Florida’s Ag Law and our Office of Statewide Prosecution,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier, adding a pointed observation about Florida’s stance on retail crime. “We are proud that Florida doesn’t have stores with merchandise locked behind glass like you see in California, and we intend to keep it that way.”
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson echoed the sentiment, stating, “Today’s announcement shows Florida means business when it comes to organized retail theft… While too many states are weakening their laws and turning a blind eye to retail theft, Florida is strengthening its laws and holding criminals accountable.”
The accused—Willie Hendry Delmarta Marquis Harvin, Earl Choyce Gordon II, Charles McCloud Jr., Eduardo Franco Viruet, Dwight Rachard Mosby, Eugene Rohala Oneal, and Hermis Brayan Martinez Sierra—are facing serious felony charges, including Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Organized Retail Theft, and Dealing in Stolen Property. Notably, the seven defendants share a combined history of over 170 prior charges.
The collaboration between state agencies and The Home Depot was highlighted as key to the successful investigation. Scott Glenn, vice president of asset protection for The Home Depot, expressed gratitude, saying, “We’re grateful for the leadership and willingness of Attorney General Uthmeier and Florida lawmakers to stop these criminals.”
The Florida Retail Federation also praised the outcome, noting that the cross-agency effort “reinforc[es] our state’s reputation as the nation’s law-and-order state.”
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