Seattle Restaurant owner among those charged in liquor ORC ring  Eduardo Morales-Cardenas is the head of the crime ring. He owns the Puerto Vallarta restaurant on California Avenue in West Seattle. Investigators say he directed three men and one woman to hit the liquor isle in grocery stores all over King County. The crew would then bring the stolen booze to Morales-Cardenas who would buy it for pennies on the dollar. Investigators believe he then sold the liquor in this restaurant. This type of investigation provides prosecutors with evidence that these are more than simple shoplifting cases. The charge of Organized Retail Theft is a felony that carries harsher penalties upon conviction. (Source king5.com)

Kentucky man admits he was part of an ORC group responsible for over $32,000 in theft  Joseph Mattingly, 28, gave police a recorded statement saying he worked with other people to consistently steal merchandise from stores, return the items for a store gift card and then sell the gift cards for cash value. According to police, the group is responsible for selling more than 260 fraudulently obtained gift cards for more than $32,000. Mattingly said the group included his father, uncle, brother sister and a few others. Officers interviewed the people he indicated were involved, who also admitted their role in the scheme and implicated Mattingly, as well. The suspect told police he participated in the crimes because he is addicted to heroin and has financial difficulties. (Source wave3.com)



Four suspects in Helena, Montana charged in alleged theft ring  Four people have been charged in an alleged felony theft ring for knowingly possessing stolen property. According to the filed complaint, the four were in possession of the property, including a laptop computer that had been tracked down local motel. A search warrant found several drivers licenses and credit cards belonging to others. (Source kxlh.com)



Five New Yorkers sentenced in Federal Court on Credit Card fraud in Indianapolis  Five New Yorkers arrested in April by Clarksville police on suspicions of credit card fraud, were sentenced Monday by a federal court. The group is believed to be responsible for what the U.S. Secret Service has called the largest credit card fraud operation they’ve seen in the Louisville area. United States Attorney announced Monday that the five individuals were sentenced after being convicted of possessing hundreds of counterfeit credit cards as part of a credit card fraud scheme allegedly based in New York. (Source newsandtribune.com)


Trio of shoplifters hit Coach Outlet in Gonzales, Louisiana  Gonzales Police need the public's help in finding three suspected shoplifters. Police say three black females walked into the Coach Outlet store in Tanger Mall and were seen "concealing" four Coach brand watchers in a purse carried by one woman. The three females walked directly out of the store without paying for the merchandise. The combined value of the watches is $1,140. (Source wafb.com)