Californian Resident, Sentenced to 5 yrs in Prison for Organized Retail Theft Scheme & Wire Fraud Spanning 23 States

With each rental, he made false promises to return the machines by a certain date or face penalties. Despite paying small rental deposits with common debit cards, Thomas and his accomplice blocked the accounts to avoid payment.

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A young man from Santa Monica, California, aged 27, has been handed a hefty five-year prison sentence today by the U.S. District Court in Seattle. This sentence comes as a result of his involvement in an elaborate retail theft scheme that caused a staggering $664,000 in damages. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman made the announcement, highlighting the severity of the crime. The culprit, Jaylan Amir Thomas, was apprehended in May 2023 and later admitted his guilt to wire fraud on December 5, 2023.

Records from March 2022 show that Thomas orchestrated a scheme where he traveled across the U.S. with a group, making stops at home improvement stores to rent expensive construction equipment like jumping jack tampers and vibratory plate compactors. Using over 150 fake IDs and numerous fake telephone numbers, Thomas managed to deceive the stores into renting him the equipment.

With each rental, he made false promises to return the machines by a certain date or face penalties. Despite paying small rental deposits with common debit cards, Thomas and his accomplice blocked the accounts to avoid payment. The stolen goods were then transported in rental vans and sold on online platforms for a fraction of their actual value.

Altogether, Thomas and his team managed to steal over 480 pieces of equipment from 190 home improvement stores across 23 states. Thomas was required to compensate the victim home improvement store with a hefty sum of $664,161.50.

Despite being arrested four times in three different jurisdictions for his involvement in the scheme, Thomas remained undeterred. He would simply post bail and resume his fraudulent activities.

Asking for a 51-month prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar wrote to the court, “Organized retail crime like Thomas’ thefts has a significant impact on our communities: An analysis from the Retail Industry Leaders Association estimates Washington retailers lost $2.7 billion to organized retail crime in 2021. Forbes Advisor ranked Washington as the number one state impacted by organized retail theft based on six metrics. Organized retail crime raises costs for consumers and threatens the safety of stores and employees.” Judge Martinez noted that organized retail theft has been on the rise since the pandemic and costs U.S. residents some $30 billion a year.

“Mr. Thomas's multi-state retail theft scheme not only resulted in substantial financial losses for retailers but also highlighted the complex and widespread nature of organized retail crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “This orchestrated fraud operation, underscores the critical need for collaborative efforts, including robust public-private partnerships, to combat such threats effectively. Homeland Security Investigations played a pivotal role in unraveling this intricate network, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts between government agencies and private businesses in safeguarding communities from the pervasive impact of organized crime.”

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In the report, it was revealed that Jalen Amir Thomas found himself in hot water alongside his teammate Armia Ta’Jae Timmons, 25, hailing from Los Angeles. The duo faced an eleven-count indictment, shedding light on their alleged activities. According to the indictment, Thomas took charge of a group that included Timmons, embarking on a journey across the United States. Their stops primarily revolved around home improvement stores, where they engaged in a rather peculiar scheme.

They would rent out two types of pricey construction equipment, namely jumping jack tampers and vibratory plate compactors, each valued between $1,500 and $2,000. To secure the rentals, they resorted to using debit cards, making a small deposit for each machine. Additionally, they signed an agreement that held them responsible for mounting fees if the equipment wasn't returned on time. To further complicate matters, they employed false identities and deceptive telephone numbers during the rental process. As if that wasn't enough, they transported their ill-gotten gains in vans and rental trucks.

Mentioned earlier, a staggering total of 480 pieces of equipment were snatched from the home improvement stores. When the stores attempted to charge the debit account for the equipment's value or the resulting penalties, they were met with disappointment as there were insufficient funds to cover the debt. In a bid to make some quick cash, Thomas and Timmons resorted to selling the stolen equipment at heavily discounted prices on various online marketplaces.

The group targeted multiple stores in Federal Way, Tacoma, Vancouver, Covington, Longview, Bothell, Everett, Redmond, and Seattle, making off with a wide range of items.

Due to the fact that the deposits were sent via wire outside the state of Washington, the duo now faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as well as ten counts of wire fraud and/or aiding and abetting wire fraud.

“Organized retail theft has exploded across the country, due in large part to the growth of an online resale marketplace,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, we allege the coconspirators hatched a scheme to rent high-value construction equipment and then fail to return it. They allegedly sold the stolen goods on websites such as OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. They traveled through 23 different states and hit nearly 200 stores causing more than $800,000 in losses. We are putting a stop to it here in Western Washington.”

“As the US retail sector faces increasing challenges such as layoffs and store closings, it becomes more difficult for stores to absorb the impact of retail fraud, which amounts to billions of dollars in losses,” said SAC Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI is proud to have started a strategic initiative with the Seattle Police Department and various corporate partners in 2023 to hold those involved in organized retail theft accountable for their actions.”

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) spearheaded the inquiry, while Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar handled the prosecution.

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