The Crime Suppression Unit of Lauderhill Police Department conducted a joint investigation with the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department at the Lauderhill Swap Shop located at 3295 W. Sunrise Blvd., Lauderhill, Florida.
After an extensive eight month joint investigation, eleven vendors were identified as being involved in an ongoing scheme, which involved the purchase and sale of stolen items.
The independent vendors at the Swap Shop would knowingly purchase stolen goods at below wholesale prices and would then sell them at retail prices to consumers, making a huge profit.
Victims of several vehicle and residential burglaries were able to identify some of their stolen items at the Swap Shop. This is what prompted the investigation.
The Organized Retail Crime Unit of several store retailers to include: CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Publix and Target partnered with the Police Department to assist with the investigation. Undercover officers used some of their store items to sell to these vendors. Vendors would occasionally request certain retail items to sell at their booths.
Out of the eleven vendors involved, nine have been physically taken into custody. Two of the vendors have spoken to police and have agreed to turn themselves in.
The types of items involved were: electronics, consumer goods to include health related products.
Three of the vendors are being charged with dealing in stolen property, grand theft and racketeering. The other vendors are being charged with dealing in stolen property and grand theft.
The vendors arrested so far in this scheme are:
James Santos
Ashton Kissoon
Joseph Gearhart
Jalal Sadeghi
Cebonneur Jean
Willy Metayer
Ervez Victor
Samuel Ramos
Ruben Salome, Jr.
The Lauderhill Police Department along with the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department served warrants to the vendors who were at the Swap Shop and took those present into custody. The Broward Sheriff’s Office assisted in locating one of the vendors who lived in Coconut Creek, Florida.
All of the items from the vendors’ booths were seized.
My house in Margate was burglarized on March 8th. I wonder when we'll find out if any of our things were recovered. They took 2 TV's, laptop, XBOX 360, jewelry, cash, etc...We're awfully close to that vendor who lived in Coconut Creek!
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