AG Moody’s Statewide Prosecutors Charge Five Crime Ring Members for Stealing More Than $400,000 in Organized Retail Theft Scheme

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging five members of a crime ring with organized retail theft. The group comprised of Yordan Rayo-Correoso, Erick Igorra-Viera, Jose Jiklin Palmero Bazan, Tomas Baujin-Marrero and Yereslan Gonzalez-Padron committed more than 200 thefts in 14 judicial circuits in a 15-month period. The defendants targeted retailers including T.J. Maxx, Ulta Beauty, Burlington, Target and other similar stores, causing at least $400,000 in losses.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, "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."

According to the investigation, the defendants targeted T.J. Maxx, Ulta Beauty, Burlington, Target, Bealls, Kohl's and other similar stores in 25 counties around the state. The defendants entered the stores, removed anti-theft tags off clothing, purses, shoes and other items, then placed the merchandise in a suitcase or hamper. Then, the defendants walked out of the store without paying. The group ultimately aimed to sell the stolen goods after committing the thefts.

The group committed thefts in 14 of the 20 judicial circuits in the state: Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth and the Twentieth Judicial Circuits. The group caused total losses of at least $400,000 to retailers.

Rayo-Correoso is charged with 15 counts of organized retail theft, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and other charges. Igorra-Viera is charged with eight counts of organized retail theft, grand theft, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and other charges. Bazan is charged with two counts of organized retail theft and other charges. Baujin-Marrero is charged with two counts of organized retail theft. 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 are currently being held under a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer. Four of the five defendants are in custody; the fifth remains at large.

The Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange played a role in this case. Attorney General Moody partnered with the Florida Retailers Association in 2021 to launch the FORCE database and taskforce to help spot trends, identify suspects and take down massive, organized retail theft rings. The database is designed to bridge the gaps between retailers, law enforcement and prosecutors by allowing shareable, searchable information on incidents of theft statewide.

Working with lawmakers, law enforcement and retailers, Attorney General Moody launched several major initiatives to stop organized retail theft in Florida. Some of those initiatives, state law changes and major OSP cases include:

• AG Moody Launches FORCE to Protect Against Retail Theft Crime Sprees
• AG Moody Partners with Legislators to Target Organized Retail Theft
• Attorney General Moody Praises Lawmakers for Passing Measures to Strengthen Public Safety This Legislative Session
• Attorney General Moody Fights for HB 549, Enhancing Penalties for Porch Piracy
• Attorney General Moody Announces Arrest of Five Members of Organized Retail Theft Ring
• Attorney General Moody Files Criminal Charges Against Three Thieves Operating Retail Theft Ring Stealing More Than $100,000
• AG Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution Secures Eight-Year Sentence and $500,000 Restitution Order for ORT Ringleader
• Attorney General Moody's Statewide Prosecutors File Criminal Charges Against 14 South Florida Retail Thieves for Causing $20 Million in Losses
• AG Moody's Statewide Prosecutors Secure Seven-Year Sentence and $300,000 Restitution Order for Leader of an Organized Retail Theft Ring Dealing in Stolen TVs From Walmart
• Another Retail Theft Ring Shut Down by Attorney General Moody's Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange Taskforce
• Organized Retail Theft Ring Spanning 16 Counties

Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Chris Olowin from Attorney General Moody's OSP will handle the case.

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