Attorney General targets $20 million South Florida retail theft ring

FLORIDA— Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is filing criminal charges against 14 people suspected of participating in a $20 million retail theft ring.

Last week, Moody and other law enforcement partners announced the conclusion of a racketeering investigation, Operation On the Fence, that she said focused on a large retail theft criminal enterprise operating in South Florida.

The criminal enterprise allegedly operated in at least nine judicial circuits and caused more than $20 million in losses to more than 20 different retailers across Florida—including Walmart, Target, Publix, Home Depot, Lowes, and more.

The stolen items are said to range from over-the-counter medications and cosmetics to tools, electronics, Legos, and other household items.

“In Florida, we are fighting back against organized retail theft. We will not allow this crime, occurring rampantly in other parts of our country, to wreak havoc on our consumers and businesses,” said Moody.

“Thanks to great collaborative efforts between my Office of Statewide Prosecution and our amazing law enforcement partners, this massive criminal enterprise, which caused more than $20 million in losses, is out of business.”

This joint investigation involved the partnership of several law enforcement agencies, including the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Coral Springs Police Department, and the Pembroke Pines Police Department.

According to the investigation, dozens of serial retail thieves brought stolen items to an alleged first-level illicit distributor, Arland Cata. Cata reportedly purchased the stolen merchandise from the thieves, valued at least $1 million, and paid the criminals five percent to 10% of the item’s retail value.

Allegedly, Cata then sold those items to Joshua Markell, alleged to be a higher-level distributor. According to Moody, Markell owned an Amazon storefront, Hollywoodseller, to sell the stolen items to unsuspecting consumers nationwide.

This past year, the Hollywoodseller Amazon storefront reportedly made more than $5 million in sales. Markell allegedly paid Cata approximately $1.2 million for stolen merchandise from January to September. Markell and Cata are said to have employed several individuals who assisted with the inventory and transport of the stolen items to Amazon.

The investigation resulted in law enforcement seizing over $1.2 million in stolen merchandise that Moody said Markell intended to sell on Amazon—reportedly more than 4,800 stolen items. According to Moody’s announcement, Markell shipped more than 100,000 items to Amazon for the Hollywoodseller this year.

Moody said stores impacted by this criminal enterprise include the following: Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Publix, Winn Dixie, Fresco Y Mas, Navarro, Home Depot, Lowes, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, Sam Ash, Best Buy, Harbor Freight, Guitar Center, Golf Galaxy, Macy’s, BJ’s, and Costco—along with various pool supply stores and small music businesses.

Moody’s OSP is charging 14 individuals, including Markell, for their alleged involvement in the criminal enterprise. The charges include racketeering, organized retail theft, grand theft, dealing in stolen property, and other conspiracy charges based on roles within the criminal enterprise.

Attorney General Moody’s Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, Chris Olowin, will handle the case. There is currently a separate ongoing investigation into the homicide of Cata.