Credit: Joao Viegas / Unsplash.com
The ring profited over $850,000 from the thefts, reports said.
State Attorney General Michelle Henry, along with the Pennsylvania State Police, has announced charges against three alleged leaders of an organized retail theft crew who stole merchandise, altered receipts, and made returns at TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls stores, resulting in more than $850,000 in payouts.
The collaborative investigation led to a presentment from the 50th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury and charges against nine individuals, in all, who allegedly participated in the complicated fraud and theft scheme since 2022.
The alleged leaders are Davon Whitfield, 40, of Roslyn; Naima Scott, 47, of Abington; and Zonay Griffin, 26, of Philadelphia, according to a press release from the state attorney general’s office. The three are charged with numerous felonies, including corrupt organizations, organized retail theft, forgery, and conspiracy.
The organization used a number of methods to take advantage of return policies at TJX Companies stores — which include T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, and Sierra, the release stated. Most of the transactions began with the theft of items, which were ultimately returned.
The Office of Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Unit and the Pennsylvania State Police’s Organized Crime Unit collaborated on the investigation, which led to Grand Jury proceedings in recent months.
“This was a sophisticated, highly-profitable scheme involving hundreds of transactions circumventing return policies — but make no mistake about it, this conduct is theft,” Attorney General Henry said. “I want to thank our partners with the Pennsylvania State Police and my staff for conducting a thorough investigation, as well as the dedicated work of the grand jurors.”
“These crimes affect not only retailers but the communities they serve. Retail theft harms us all by driving up the prices of essential goods,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “The Pennsylvania State Police and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting our communities from the selfish acts of those who seek financial gain from crimes like this.”
While the organization targeted more than 1,000 store locations in nine different states, most of the transactions happened in southeastern Pennsylvania, in and around suburban Philadelphia, according to the release.
Most of the transactions began with the theft of items or merchandise, which were then returned for store credit. Typically, the defendants then made purchases with that store credit and manipulated the return policy to have refunds applied to the defendants’ debit cards.
Whitfield, Scott, and Griffin made approximately 1,500 transactions worth more than $700,000 in payouts, police said. Six other alleged members of the organization are charged: Shakeira Vivan, Miara Armstead, Harry Anderson, Lamar Washington, Jasmine Reese, and Myles Hartman, according to the release.
The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Erik Olsen and Deputy Attorney General Noelle Wilkinson.
