New Task Force Achieves Initial Breakthrough
A specialized unit created to tackle organized retail crime has secured its first charges against five suspects in the Dayton region.
"The problem is much worse than petty theft – organized fraudsters are ripping off businesses for billions of dollars every year," said Attorney General Dave Yost.
This task force was established under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and is led by the Kettering Police Department.
Details of the Charges
Seth Davison, 39, of Columbus, faces serious charges with one count of organized retail theft and two counts of theft, revealing his alleged theft of over $7,500 worth of goods. Police arrested him on Sept. 29 while he was concealing stolen merchandise.
Jacqueline Tackett, 39, of Reynoldsburg, has also been indicted on charges of complicity to commit organized retail theft.
Three other suspects—Christopher Lee, 43, Dathan McCurdy, 44, and DeMarco Turbolt, 42, all from Cincinnati—were indicted for theft after being caught bagging unpaid merchandise, with authorities recovering over $1,100 in stolen goods from them.
Collaborative Law Enforcement Effort
The Tactical Crime Suppression Unit (TCSU) Organized Retail Crime Task Force collaborates with multiple agencies, including the Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Germantown, West Carrollton, Springboro, Centerville, Miami Township police departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to Attorney General Dave Yost, organized retail theft costs Ohio businesses approximately $3 billion annually.
