Mob investigation: 73-year-old admits role in $1 million cigarette-theft scheme - Mob run cargo theft-right out of the 'Goodfellas' movie  One of eight people arrested in alleged scheme to steal and sell $1 million worth of cigarettes has pleaded guilty. Augie” Guido, 73, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to conspiracy to commit cargo theft. Guido and seven other people — with nicknames including "Jimmy Boy" and "Charlie Tuna" — were charged in December of 2012 for their alleged roles in the scheme after an informant wearing a wire helped the FBI catch the crew, Fishman has said. Guido was released on a $100,000 bond after his arrest. Cooperating with the FBI, the informant took part in a sting operation in which he and the eight men stole a tractor-trailer loaded with 270 cases of counterfeit Pall Mall and Lucky 7 cigarettes from a warehouse in Edison, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Federal agents placed video cameras and other evidence-gathering equipment in the area, it said. In June, the informant met with some of the men to discuss the planned theft of the trailer — another recorded meeting — the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "Defendant Guido noted the lock was a 'piece of (expletive)' and advised the others than they needed ski masks and baseball caps," the U.S. Attorney's Office wrote in its announcement about the sting. Then, on July 31, law enforcement officers saw and video-recorded some of them men, wearing masks, breaking into the warehouse and driving away with the trailer, which they dropped off at a warehouse in Perth Amboy, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In March 2011, the informant paid one of the men, James "Jimmy Boy" Dellaratta, 70, $500 — representing a portion of the sales from the cigarettes, the U.S. Attorney's office said. In February of 2012, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of the Perth Amboy warehouse and found 52 full boxes, with each box containing about 50 cartons of the cigarettes, it said. In a separate sting in June of 2011, the informant told the defendants that 25 32-inch televisions had been stolen, and the TVs were transported to New York by Guido and Torlone, the U.S. Attorney's office said. (Source nj.com)

Mount Holly, Pa., female sentenced to 3 yrs for $800,000 "forced" sales on declined credit or debit cards at retailers  Temeshia McDonald would have a cashier process the purchase, then present an expired or counterfeit payment card that would be declined, officials said. She would then say she was the victim of identity theft, pretend to call the card company to obtain an authorization code, and give the cashier a number. The code, although phony, would override the denial and force the sale once it was entered into the terminal, officials said. By the time - hours or days later - store employees realized they were duped, McDonald was on to her next shopping spree, according to court records. Court records show her cutting a wide swath with her shopping sprees - she struck at shops in Manhattan, Philadelphia, Cherry Hill Mall, other suburban stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and Christiana Mall in Newark, Del. Authorities did not elaborate, but said proceeds from the fraud were used to pay for "plastic surgery, to make a down payment on a 2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe, and to purchase thousands of dollars of merchandise at high-end women's clothing stores. (Source philly.com)

ORC Booze felon dies after being caught shoplifting at Safeway in Belfair, Wash.
Mason County sheriff's deputies say a man dropped dead moments after he was caught stealing booze from a Belfair Safeway. Deputies were called to the Safeway on Sunday at 5 p.m. after store employees saw a man trying to steal a shopping cart full of alcohol and various other items. While waiting for police, a Safeway loss-prevention officer confronted the shoplifter outside of the store and told him to stop, according to sheriff's office. Instead of giving up, the shoplifter ditched the cart and took off running. When a deputy got to the store, the Safeway employee pointed out which direction the suspect was headed. The deputy searched the area and found the accused shoplifter on the ground. The man was non-responsive and wasn't breathing, according to the sheriff's office. With help from the loss-prevention officer, the deputy performed CPR on the man while waiting for a medic aid unit to arrive. The accused shoplifter was transported to Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, but he did not survive. The man, who has not been identified, had multiple felony warrants for his arrest and had previous felony convictions, according to the sheriff's office. (Source komonews.com)

Louisville, KY man arrested for stealing nearly $3000 of North Face jackets from Macy’s  Cortez Ricketts was taken into police custody on Feb. 10 for allegedly stealing items from a Macy's store on Shelbyville Rd. On Feb. 5, Ricketts was observed stealing $796 worth of North Face coats, approached by Loss Prevention and escaped. Back on Jan 25, Ricketts was observed stealing 12 North Face jackets valued at $1920, Loss Prevention was only able to obtain the get-a-way vehicle’s information. (Source wdrb.com)

Six arrested for stealing nearly $1,600 in merchandise from a Massillon, OH Walmart  Four adults and two juveniles were arrested Monday evening in connection with the theft of nearly $1,600 worth of merchandise from Wal-Mart. Three shopping carts were filled with merchandise from the store, including food, clothing, and a stereo system. The items were taken out the door without an attempt to pay for them. The stolen goods were being placed into a vehicle when the six were stopped and arrested by Massillon police officers. (Source indeonline.com)