Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen revealed on Tuesday the arrest of 46-year-old Houston resident James Eric Barnes. Barnes is facing charges of organized criminal activity following a detailed investigation into a large-scale emergency power generator theft operation that defrauded numerous Texas businesses.
“He preyed on businesses that provide emergency supplies and on people trying to protect their homes and families during times of disaster,” Constable Rosen said. “As the investigation progresses, we expect additional suspects will face charges.”
Barnes is accused of using compromised credit card information obtained online to purchase high-value backup generators—ranging from $7,000 to $10,000 each—from distributors across Texas. He then allegedly resold these units at significantly discounted prices on Facebook Marketplace.
Court documents reveal that over 30 companies throughout Texas were victims of this scheme, suffering combined losses of more than $470,000 since 2023. Investigators believe Barnes attempted to fraudulently acquire over $900,000 worth of merchandise, though some shipments were intercepted before reaching their destination.
The operation targeted multiple cities across Texas, including Austin, Beaumont, Brookshire, Dallas, and San Antonio, with a focus on Harris County and surrounding areas. According to law enforcement, Barnes sold about two generators each week over a span of one year. During the arrest operation, authorities recovered 10 new, unopened generators from a storage facility.
The surge in demand for residential backup generators—driven by frequent weather-related power outages—has created an environment where criminals like Barnes can exploit homeowners. Industry reports show that generator sales have increased by more than 400% following recent natural disasters, including winter storms, hurricanes, and flooding in the Houston area.
Along with the generators, Barnes also allegedly acquired and resold riding lawnmowers. Investigators uncovered multiple false identities, including aliases such as John Hoover, Michael Martin, and Ronny Martin, used by Barnes in his criminal activities.
If convicted of the first-degree felony charge, Barnes could face a life sentence in prison.
Constable Rosen is urging anyone who believes they may have unknowingly purchased stolen generators, power equipment, or major brand items like Generac or Kohler from Barnes to contact Precinct One at 713-755-7628. Rosen also advised homeowners to always verify dealer credentials and check serial numbers with manufacturers when purchasing backup power systems.
“Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Rosen cautioned. “Don’t help criminals stay in business.”
