Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, has charged five members of an organized crime ring responsible for more than 200 thefts across Florida. The group targeted retailers such as T.J. Maxx, Ulta Beauty, Burlington, Target, and other similar stores, causing at least $400,000 in losses over a span of 15 months.
The defendants—Yordan Rayo-Correoso, 33; Erick Igorra-Viera, 29; Jose Jiklin Palmero Bazan, 41; Tomas Baujin-Marrero, 32; and Yereslan Gonzalez-Padron, 35—committed thefts in 14 of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits, operating in 25 counties around the state. The thefts occurred from March 2023 to May 2024, and the group’s method involved removing anti-theft tags from various items, including clothing, shoes, purses, and cosmetics. They would then place the stolen merchandise into suitcases or hampers and leave the stores without paying.
Once the stolen goods were acquired, the suspects aimed to sell them for profit. The group’s thefts spanned from retail giants like T.J. Maxx and Target to smaller outlets, including Bealls, Kohl’s, and Ulta Beauty. According to the investigation, they were part of a larger trend of organized retail theft sweeping the state.
The following charges have been filed against the individuals:
- Yordan Rayo-Correoso is charged with 15 counts of organized retail theft, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and additional charges related to his involvement in the crime ring.
- Erick Igorra-Viera faces eight counts of organized retail theft, grand theft, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and other related offenses.
- Jose Jiklin Palmero Bazan is charged with two counts of organized retail theft and other charges.
- Tomas Baujin-Marrero is charged with two counts of organized retail theft.
- Yereslan Gonzalez-Padron is charged with four counts of organized retail theft, grand theft, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and other charges.
Bazan and Gonzalez-Padron are being held under a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer. As of the latest reports, four of the suspects are in custody, while one remains at large.
This operation is part of a broader initiative to tackle organized retail theft in Florida, where multiple retailers and law enforcement agencies work together to track and dismantle large crime rings. The Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange (FORCE) played a significant role in the investigation. The FORCE database, launched by Attorney General Moody in partnership with the Florida Retailers Association in 2021, allows retailers, law enforcement, and prosecutors to share information about incidents of theft across the state. This collaboration has helped to identify suspects, spot trends, and take down extensive retail theft operations.
Attorney General Ashley Moody emphasized the importance of such collaborative efforts in combatting organized crime, stating, “This organized crime ring traveled the state, stealing from hundreds of stores and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses to retailers. Through our proactive statewide strategic efforts, coordinating with law enforcement and retailers, we have dismantled this massive crime ring and now the members will face justice.”
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