MIAMI — During a news conference in Miami on Wednesday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrests of seven people he said were involved in an organized retail theft ring that spanned multiple Florida counties, including Miami-Dade.
“It’s not a victimless crime,” Uthmeier said. “These consumers are the ones who suffer. Consumers are the ones who pay for this.”
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, joining Uthmeier, said the stolen merchandise has been recovered.
“And more arrests are forthcoming,” she said.
The suspects — identified as Naychel Alvarez Jerez, 36; John Kevin Romero, 22; Josue Rego Romero, 29; Alberto Socorro Alvarez, 28; Jose Carlos Perez Salgado, 30; Antonio Perez Torres, 26; and Lissette Dearmas Rodriguez, 34 — were all arrested in Martin County.
R. Scott Shalley, the president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation, said the focus is on safety as much as property.
“It is a fight to protect product, but more importantly, Floridians and associates in our stores,” Shalley said. “We want customers to have a safe and happy shopping experience.”
Investigators say the group is responsible for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of beauty products, specifically targeting stores like CVS, Walgreens, Publix, Burlington and Ulta.
The shoplifters are accused of stealing the products and providing them to Jerez, who authorities said sold them on OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace.
In 2024, Florida stiffened penalties for those who commit these types of crimes. Florida Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Chris Olowin explained the legal ramifications.
“If you commit three or more retail thefts with 20 or more items stolen within a 120-day period, it is a second-degree felony, punishable by a maximum of 15 years in the Department of Corrections,” Olowin said. “There are also enhancements if you have two or more convictions.”
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