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Crime ring crackdown
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| Lake City Police Department officer Paul Kash escorts Donna Marlene King after she was arrested at the local Wal-Mart store Sunday, Dec. 28. King’s arrest was part of a crime ring that law enforcement agencies infiltrated that led to the arrest of nine people and the recovery of more than $100,000 in merchandise. PATRICK SCOTT/Special to the Reporter |
9 arrested in multi-state bust.
By TONY BRITT
tbritt@lakecityreporter.com
The arrest of a pair Georgia shoplifters clued local authorities and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations in on a multi-state shoplifting ring, leading to the arrest of nine people and the recovery of more than $100,000 in stolen merchandise. Additional arrests are expected.
A Georgia couple was arrested Sunday, Dec. 28 after they were caught with more than $7,000 worth of stolen DVDs, CDs and other electronic merchandise from Wal-Mart. Mark Anthony Hudson, 37, Newton, Ga., and Donna Marlene King, 36, Valdosta, Ga., were charged with grand theft.
“Officer Paul Kash was just very professional and did a really in-depth job and they admitted to being part of a (theft) ring based out of Georgia,” said Lake City Police Department public information officer Lt. Joe Moody. “That’s what they did — they traveled all over the southeast and stole property.”
He said their other crimes included doctor shopping and making false identifications.
Hudson and King have been released on bond.
As a result of Hudson and King’s arrests, a joint investigation involving the Lake City Police Department, Columbia County Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was launched.
The investigation, which is continuing, yielded the arrest of seven other people in Georgia and four additional arrest warrants have been issued in Georgia. Charges include narcotics, theft and possession of firearms by convicted felons. Additionally, federal indictments are anticipated in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
Officials in Georgia said there is a ring leader who has yet to be identified, however, they are attempting to issue an arrest warrant for prime suspects.
The crime ring operated under the ring leader, who had 10 teams of two people, who committed the thefts, by mainly targeting Wal-Mart and other electronic equipment stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
As part of the investigation, authorities discovered and searched warehouses in Georgia and seized approximately $20,000 in cash. Six vehicles and more than $100,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered. Authorities also recovered four stolen guns, including two that were stolen from Department of Motor Carrier Compliance officials in Ocala.
“Sgt. Shawn Raggins, Ofc. Paul Kash and Cpl. John Spahalski and Bob Mills with Wal-Mart security did a fabulous job,” Moody said of the investigation.
A Georgia couple was arrested Sunday, Dec. 28 after they were caught with more than $7,000 worth of stolen DVDs, CDs and other electronic merchandise from Wal-Mart. Mark Anthony Hudson, 37, Newton, Ga., and Donna Marlene King, 36, Valdosta, Ga., were charged with grand theft.
“Officer Paul Kash was just very professional and did a really in-depth job and they admitted to being part of a (theft) ring based out of Georgia,” said Lake City Police Department public information officer Lt. Joe Moody. “That’s what they did — they traveled all over the southeast and stole property.”
He said their other crimes included doctor shopping and making false identifications.
Hudson and King have been released on bond.
As a result of Hudson and King’s arrests, a joint investigation involving the Lake City Police Department, Columbia County Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was launched.
The investigation, which is continuing, yielded the arrest of seven other people in Georgia and four additional arrest warrants have been issued in Georgia. Charges include narcotics, theft and possession of firearms by convicted felons. Additionally, federal indictments are anticipated in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
Officials in Georgia said there is a ring leader who has yet to be identified, however, they are attempting to issue an arrest warrant for prime suspects.
The crime ring operated under the ring leader, who had 10 teams of two people, who committed the thefts, by mainly targeting Wal-Mart and other electronic equipment stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
As part of the investigation, authorities discovered and searched warehouses in Georgia and seized approximately $20,000 in cash. Six vehicles and more than $100,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered. Authorities also recovered four stolen guns, including two that were stolen from Department of Motor Carrier Compliance officials in Ocala.
“Sgt. Shawn Raggins, Ofc. Paul Kash and Cpl. John Spahalski and Bob Mills with Wal-Mart security did a fabulous job,” Moody said of the investigation.
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Good Job wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:17 AM: