In a major retail fraud case, three individuals with extensive criminal records have been arrested after executing fraudulent returns at T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods stores in Salt Lake County. The suspects, Darnell Hadden Parks, Aja Lenae Maliki Garcia, and Latosha Renee Palmer, are accused of stealing merchandise valued at more than $52,000 through a series of deceptive returns.
On Sunday, the loss prevention team at T.J. Maxx’s Taylorsville location alerted the Sandy Police Department about the fraudulent activities. Employees described how the suspects entered the store empty-handed, selected various items, and returned them successfully. They repeated this scam, attempting another return before leaving the store without paying for the goods.
The suspects continued their theft at a T.J. Maxx store in Sandy, where they managed to fraudulently return the stolen items. Loss prevention personnel observed the suspects’ vehicle and continued to track their movements, which led them to Target in Sandy. There, a police officer recognized the vehicle and identified one of the suspects, later identified as Darnell Parks, who had been caught on earlier surveillance footage.
Upon conducting a traffic stop, officers detected the odor of marijuana and proceeded to investigate further. Garcia, the driver, and Palmer, a backseat passenger, both presented California driver’s licenses, while Parks provided a license under a false name, “Tariq Williams.” Parks was found in possession of marijuana and placed under arrest.
A search of the vehicle revealed a shocking array of fraudulent materials, including 18 pieces of identification, such as social security cards, driver’s licenses, and a passport, belonging to different individuals. Officers also found merchandise from several stores, including T.J. Maxx, Victoria’s Secret, and Lulu Lemon, along with merchandise cards wrapped in receipts from the stolen goods.
The suspects face serious charges, including multiple felony counts for unlawful possession of another’s identification and fraudulent activity. Parks, 30, faces 22 third-degree felony counts for identity theft, financial card misuse, and retail theft, among other charges. Garcia, 37, is facing 18 counts of unlawful possession of others’ IDs, and Palmer, 35, is charged with possessing multiple forms of identification fraudulently.
All three suspects were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, and authorities are continuing to investigate their extensive criminal activities.
