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Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
How Walmart and Target may have worked together to bust a $100,000 AirPods theft ring
Two women from New York, US, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for operating a multistate retail theft ring involving over $100,000 worth of goods, including Apple AirPods , from Walmart and Target stores. Prosecutors in Cherokee County initially considered charges in May 2024 when Walmart Global Investigations met with their Gang and Organized Crime Unit to discuss a "large theft ring involving both Walmart and Target." The two retail giants collaborated to investigate the thefts by sharing information with each other before contacting law enforcement agencies, according to prosecutors. From June 2022 through August 2024, the women stole nearly $141,000 worth of merchandise in 187 incidents across 21 states, including Georgia. The women, Ebony Fallon Washington (aka Stephanie Harris), 43, and Melissa Holland (aka Keisha Wilson), 46, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office said to USA Today. How these women used to steal AirPods from Walmart and Target store Their scheme involved buying Apple AirPods with cash and using tools to remove the genuine products from their packaging. They would then replace the AirPods with cheaper items and reseal the boxes to appear unopened. The fraudulent items were then returned for full cash refunds. In some cases, the refunded cash was used to purchase more AirPods, continuing the cycle. The authentic Apple products were kept and resold for profit, according to prosecutors. The suspects were arrested in September 2024 in Coweta County. During a search of their rental car, officers found hotel receipts for locations near the targeted stores and tools for opening AirPods packaging. Prosecutors noted that five cellphones seized from the defendants contained additional evidence. Each woman received a 10-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of probation, and was ordered to pay $134,951.86 in restitution—the remaining balance after recovered items were deducted from the total theft value. A Walmart spokesperson told USA Today on May 9 that the company is deferring further comment to law enforcement, and Target had not responded to requests for comment. 'Organised retail crime is a growing problem not only in our community, but nationwide,' DA Susan Treadaway said in a statement (as seen by USA Today). The DA also noted that these two women were 'clearly involved in an organised scheme' that impacted stores 'throughout the country.' Meanwhile, Rachel Murphy, Assistant District Attorney of the Gang and Organized Crime Unit said: 'These defendants operated in a coordinated effort with a specific plan in place. Although only two stores in Cherokee County were directly affected, Georgia's RICO Act enabled us to prosecute this broader criminal enterprise.'
USA Today
09-05-2025
- USA Today
Walmart, Target work together to thwart AirPod theft scheme stretching 21 states, DA says
Walmart, Target work together to thwart AirPod theft scheme stretching 21 states, DA says Two New York women were sentenced after pleading guilty to stealing over $100,000 in items from Walmart and Target stores across the country. Show Caption Hide Caption Walmart begins using bodycams on employees The retailer Walmart is starting its body cam pilot program at select U.S. locations, fitting store level associates with body cameras. Cheddar Two New York women were sentenced to a decade in prison for operating a multistate retail theft ring that involved stealing over $100,000 worth of goods from Walmart and Target stores. Ebony Fallon Washington (a.k.a. Stephanie Harris), 43, and Melissa Holland (a.k.a. Keisha Wilson), 46, both pleaded guilty to three counts of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office said. According to prosecutors, from June 2022 through August 2024, the women stole nearly $141,000 worth of merchandise in 187 different incidents across 21 states, including Georgia. 'Organized retail crime is a growing problem not only in our community, but nationwide,' DA Susan Treadaway said in a statement. The DA added that the two women were "clearly involved in an organized scheme" that impacted stores "throughout the country." Women's scheme involved returning fraudulent AirPods: DA The women's scheme consisted of them buying Apple AirPods with cash, using tools to remove genuine products from their packaging, replacing them with cheaper items, resealing the boxes to appear unopened and returning the fraudulent items for full cash refunds, the DA's office said. In some cases, they used the refunded cash to buy more AirPods, thus continuing the cycle. They would also keep the authentic Apple products to resell for profit, according to prosecutors. 'These defendants operated in a coordinated effort with a specific plan in place. Although only two stores in Cherokee County were directly affected, Georgia's RICO Act enabled us to prosecute this broader criminal enterprise,' Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy, of the Gang and Organized Crime Unit, said in a statement. Walmart and Target joined together in effort to curb theft scheme Prosecutors in Cherokee County first considered bringing charges against the women in May 2024, when Walmart Global Investigations met with their Gang and Organized Crime Unit to discuss a "large theft ring involving both Walmart and Target," the DA's office said. The two retail giants worked together to investigate the thefts and opted to share information with each other before going to law enforcement agencies, according to prosecutors. The women were eventually arrested on Sept. 13, 2024, in Coweta County, southwest of Atlanta. While executing a search warrant, authorities found receipts for hotels near retail stores targeted in the scheme and tools used to open AirPods packaging in the women's rental car, according to the DA's office. Authorities found more incriminating evidence on five cellphones that were being used by the women, prosecutors said. In addition to the 10-year prison sentences, the women will also have to serve 10 years of probation and pay a total of $134,951.86 in restitution, which reflects the remaining balance after the value of recovered items was deducted from the total theft amount, the DA's office said. USA TODAY contacted Walmart and Target on May 9 but has not received a response. Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 women sentenced in Georgia for multi-state theft scheme
The Brief Ebony Fallon Washington and Melissa Holland were sentenced to 20 years for operating a retail theft scheme targeting Walmart and Target stores across 21 states, including Georgia. The scheme involved stealing Apple AirPods, replacing them with lower-value items, and returning them for refunds, resulting in 187 thefts totaling nearly $141,000. Both women must pay restitution, serve 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years on probation, and are banned from Walmart, Target, and Cherokee County. CANTON, Ga. - Two New York women have been sentenced to 20 years, including a decade behind bars, for operating an organized retail theft scheme that targeted Walmart and Target stores in 21 states, including dozens of locations in Georgia. Ebony Fallon Washington, 43, also known as Stephanie Harris, and Melissa Holland, 46, also known as Keisha Wilson, each pleaded guilty to three counts of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Washington entered a negotiated plea on March 6, while Holland entered a non-negotiated guilty plea on May 6. Both were sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jennifer L. Davis. Ebony Fallon Washington and Melissa Holland (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office) The backstory Between June 2022 and August 2024, Washington and Holland orchestrated 187 thefts totaling nearly $141,000. Prosecutors said their scheme involved purchasing Apple AirPods with cash, extracting the real devices from their packaging using tools, replacing them with lower-value items, resealing the boxes, and returning them for full cash refunds. They often used the refunded money to purchase more AirPods, which they then sold for profit. The thefts took place at retail stores across the U.S., including 32 locations in Georgia such as Acworth, Buford, Columbus, Kennesaw, Macon, and Woodstock. The investigation began in May 2024, when Walmart Global Investigations approached the Cherokee County District Attorney's Gang and Organized Crime Unit to discuss a suspected theft ring also being tracked by Target. On September 13, 2024, Washington and Holland were arrested in Coweta County with the help of the Woodstock Police Department and the Coweta County Sheriff's Office. A search of their rental car uncovered tools used in the thefts, hotel receipts for locations near targeted stores, and five cell phones that held additional evidence. Under Georgia's RICO law, prosecutors can charge individuals who operate as part of a criminal enterprise regardless of whether crimes occur locally, statewide, or nationally. This case is unrelated to a separate retail theft prosecution announced earlier in the week by the Georgia Attorney General's Office, officials clarified. What they're saying "These defendants operated in a coordinated effort with a specific plan in place," said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy of the Cherokee County Gang and Organized Crime Unit. "Although only two stores in Cherokee County were directly affected, Georgia's RICO Act enabled us to prosecute this broader criminal enterprise." District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said the use of Georgia's RICO statute in this case sends a message. "Organized retail crime is a growing problem not only in our community, but nationwide," Treadaway said. "By holding these offenders accountable and imposing prison sentences, we are sending the message that those who engage in organized retail crime will be aggressively prosecuted in Cherokee County." What's next Washington and Holland were ordered to pay $134,951.86 in restitution, the amount owed after deducting the value of recovered merchandise. Both will serve 10 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation. As part of their sentence, they are prohibited from contacting one another, banned from entering Walmart or Target stores, barred from Cherokee County, and required to perform 320 hours of community service. The Source The Cherokee County District Attorney's Office provided the details and some images. The mug shots were provided by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 sentenced for stealing nearly $141K in AirPods, removing them from boxes, then returning for cash
Two women have learned their fate after they pleaded guilty to an organized retail crime scheme that involved the Peach State. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Wednesday, the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office announced that Ebony Fallon Washington (aka Stephanie Harris), 43, and Melissa Holland (aka Keisha Wilson), 46, both of New York, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The pair was sentenced to 20 years each, with the first 10 years to be served in prison. The sentencing stems from an investigation that began in June 2022. According to court documents, from June 2022 through August 2024, the pair stole nearly $141,000 in merchandise in 187 incidents in 21 states, including Georgia. The pair went to stores all around the metro Atlanta area including Acworth, Adel, Austell, Buford, Calhoun, Columbus, Conyers, Covington, Cumming, Dallas, Fayetteville, Flowery Branch, Fort Oglethorpe, Grovetown, Hampton, Hiram, Holly Springs, Kennesaw, LaFayette, Macon, Marietta, McDonough, Milton, Norcross, Rockmart, Roswell, Smyrna, Stockbridge, Tifton, Trion, and Woodstock. TRENDING STORIES: The DA said the women would purchase AirPods with cash, remove the real products from their boxes, replace them with less valuable items, reseal the packaging to appear unopened, and return the fake products for full cash refunds. Officials said the pair kept the real Apple products to resell for profit. Prosecutors say they began investigating in May 2024, when Walmart Global Investigations met with the Gang and Organized Crime Unit of the DA's office to discuss a large theft ring involving both Walmart and Target. In September 2024, law enforcement agencies caught and arrested the pair in Coweta County. Officers said they found key evidence from the women's rental car, including receipts for hotels near the stores targeted in the scheme and tools to open the AirPods boxes. Authorities said they also discovered five cell phones used by the pair. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Both women are also ordered to pay a $134,951.86 in restitution, which is the remaining balance after the value of recovered merchandise was deducted from the total theft amount. As part of their probation, they are to have no contact with each other; they are banned from all Walmart and Target locations, cannot enter Cherokee County, and are required to complete 320 hours of community service. 'Organized retail crime is a growing problem not only in our community, but nationwide. In Cherokee County, we judiciously use RICO indictments for individuals like these defendants who were clearly involved in an organized scheme which impacted stores locally as well as throughout the country,' said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. RELATED VIDEO:
