CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Four individuals from Michigan are behind bars after being charged with retail theft and conspiracy in the Chambersburg area. The suspects—Jasmine Adrianna Cockhern, Aaron Tamone Turner, Michael William-Scott, and Amontaie Cincere Evans—were arrested on January 5, 2025, after stealing from multiple local retailers.
According to Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the group was allegedly involved in multiple thefts at various stores, including Walmart, Dollar General, and Family Dollar. PSP was first alerted to the group’s activities at Walmart on Lincoln Way East around 8:44 p.m., where the suspects were reported stealing items. They were transported to the PSP Chambersburg barracks for questioning.
Earlier that day, PSP had been dispatched to Dollar General, where the suspects allegedly used fraudulent gift cards to make purchases totaling approximately $3,500. Each card was loaded with $500, and PSP learned that the group had been involved in similar activities at other locations, including Family Dollar. At the Family Dollar store, one of the suspects attempted to purchase a gift card with $500, while two others distracted the clerk. After taking a bag of chips, they left the store without paying.
At Walmart, loss prevention staff reported that the group had entered the store at least 24 times, attempting to purchase gift cards worth $100 each. The suspects would buy small items like Kinder Eggs and request cash refunds, indicating a pattern of organized retail theft. In total, Walmart reported a loss of about $2,400 due to the group’s fraudulent transactions.
During interviews with the suspects, Cockhern explained that the group had been traveling from Flint, Michigan, to New York and had devised a scheme to purchase gift cards from stores along the way. According to Cockhern, financial institutions typically return about 50% of the money when they request refunds for the cards.
When arrested, the suspects were found in possession of $3,300 in cash, 17 gift cards, and 12 financial cards. Each of the four suspects faces felony conspiracy charges related to theft of movable property and misdemeanor conspiracy charges for retail theft.
All four suspects remain behind bars, with bail set at $100,000 each. They are scheduled for court hearings in the coming weeks.
