Two men from Lancaster, Texas, Brian Fleming and Shane Joel Gentry, have been charged for allegedly participating in a large theft ring, targeting several Walmart and Target stores across the United States, including locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
According to a Department of Public Safety affidavit, the thefts spanned from 2017 to 2022, and involved significant thefts of electronics, including Cricut cutting machines and Lego sets.
The scheme was uncovered when a Texas State Trooper stopped a vehicle in October 2022, finding 19 stolen Cricut machines in the car. The driver, arrested for an unrelated warrant, was connected to the thefts through text messages with Gentry. It was revealed that Gentry had been purchasing the stolen items at a low price and reselling them on eBay and Amazon.
Further investigation uncovered that Fleming, part of the theft ring, had been caught on video in a Walmart Lego aisle. He allegedly purchased cheap items, while others later took Lego sets from the same aisle and presented an altered receipt listing the stolen goods.
Authorities believe that more than $400,000 in merchandise, including Lego sets and electronics, was stolen from the stores. Fleming and Gentry are facing serious charges for engaging in organized criminal activity and theft of property over $300,000.
Fleming, arrested on December 6th, is currently being held in the Smith County Jail on a bond of $1.1 million. Gentry, arrested earlier, was released on November 22nd.
The theft ring raises concerns over the prevalence of organized retail crime and highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing such incidents.