Two Polish nationals were arrested in western Kentucky after authorities linked them to a multi-state retail theft ring, officials said.
Majkel Malinowski, 37, and Margarita Kaminska, 36, were taken into custody on Tuesday, March 3, by deputies from the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office along with agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
Both suspects are being held in the McCracken County Jail and face charges including receiving stolen property over $1,000, possession of burglary tools, and engaging in organized crime. Authorities said the pair also face additional theft-related charges in Graves County, Kentucky.
Investigators said the case began after Homeland Security alerted deputies that the suspects had allegedly committed a theft at a home improvement store in Mayfield. Law enforcement later located the suspects’ vehicle on Interstate 24 near the Ohio River Bridge and conducted a traffic stop.
During the stop, deputies identified the suspects as Malinowski and Kaminska, both residents of Poland who authorities say were in the United States illegally.
Detectives reportedly discovered packaging materials and shipping tape from a shipping company during the investigation. A search warrant was later executed at the shipping facility, where investigators seized a package the suspects had shipped shortly before being stopped.
According to authorities, the package contained stolen merchandise valued at more than $3,000 taken from the home improvement store.
Investigators with Homeland Security later contacted the Chicago Police Department and discovered the items were being shipped to an address in Chicago connected to two other individuals. Authorities said that location had received multiple packages in 2026 from different parts of the country, which investigators believe contained stolen goods.
Officials say Malinowski and Kaminska are suspected of stealing merchandise from stores in Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, before shipping the items to Chicago as part of the organized theft operation.
