The suspects were charged with enterprise corruption, money laundering, criminal possession of stolen property and conspiracy, and face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement released Wednesday.
The ringleader, Richard Rimbaugh, allegedly paid shoplifters between 30% and 50% of the stolen goods’ retail value before selling them online through his illegitimate business, American Media Soft, which he ran out of his New York apartment, the statement said.
The shoplifters operated in 28 states and used coded maps detailing target stores, custom-made vests to conceal large amounts of merchandise and "kryptonite" devices to deactivate security alarms at stores.
During "Operation Sticky Fingers" — one of the largest-ever busts of a retail theft ring in the country — police confiscated more than 5,300 stolen electronics and ink cartridges from Rimbaugh and more than US$ 7.7 million from the homes, bank accounts and Amazon and PayPal merchant accounts of the suspects.
"Retail theft is becoming increasingly organized, with crime rings preying on businesses and creating a vicious cycle that ultimately harms consumers, when the costs are passed on in the form of higher prices," Schneiderman said.
