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Major Retail Theft Ring Busted, Authorities Say

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

Updated: 01/24/2008 07:46 pm

For years, a multimillion dollar theft ring has swiped health, beauty and medicine products off the shelves of local retailers and then sold the stolen goods on the Internet and in flea markets, authorities say.

"Operation Beauty Stop" brought down the theft and fencing ring today with the arrests of 18 suspects, authorities say.

At a news conference in Polk County, members of a joint task force revealed details of the seven-month investigation that found stores hit by the thieves in at least 11 counties.

A Tampa woman is at the center of the investigation.

Theresa Parrish, 44, is accused of paying low-level thieves, or "boosters," to steal items from stores and then selling them through her online eBay business and at flea markets. Authorities say she made regular deliveries of stolen goods to a suspected ringleader in Seminole County.

Authorities called Parrish the "Tampa fence" for her suspected role in the crime ring and said she often provided shopping lists to the boosters.

The defendants each face one count of felony racketeering, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and one count of felony conspiracy to commit racketeering, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, among other current or pending charges.

"What started as a simple shoplifting investigation turned into the discovery of a far-flung criminal conspiracy that counted on common street criminals to steal millions of dollars of merchandise to supply other criminals selling on the Internet and in flea markets," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said. "… These thieves and criminal resellers will be going away to prison for a long, long time."

The investigation began June 26, when two Dover residents were arrested on suspicion of stealing $4,500 in merchandise, mainly Oil of Olay products, from a Publix supermarket in Lakeland.

Investigators said the two suspects were part of a larger organized crime operation with members in multiple jurisdictions. For the last five years, the group stole products from stores like Publix, Winn Dixie, Sweet Bay, Albertson's, Wal-Mart and Target, officials said.

A task force was formed from members of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Attorney General Bill McCollum's Office of Statewide Prosecution.

The boosters usually worked in two-person teams, using special bags designed to help conceal the items, officials said. Many were recorded in the act on store video surveillance.

The stolen medicines included Prilosec, Zantac, Pepcid, and Tylenol. The beauty items included Crest White Strips, Gillette and Fusion razor blades, Oil of Olay, and Aveeno and Revlon products.

Investigators said the boosters delivered the items to Parrish and her husband, Ron Parrish, at her warehouse in Tampa, at 4809 Busch Blvd., where they were paid cash.

Theresa Parrish has paid as much as $3,000 per delivery, officials said. She operates Lola's Discount Health and Beauty, which sells such products online through eBay and from booths at The Big Top Flea Market in Hillsborough County and the Webster Flea Market.

Officials said Parrish delivered some of the stolen products to Vincent May, 46, her ex-husband, who operates a booth at International Market World, also known as the Auburndale Flea Market. May is a registered sexual predator.

Investigators said they also saw her make deliveries to a man they called the "ring leader," Steven Coburn, 46, and his wife Kerry Coburn, 39, in Seminole County.

The Coburns are at the top of the theft ring, investigators said. They operate a business called SaleAwaySavings.com from a warehouse at 695 Wilma Street, Suite 121, Longwood.

Investigators served search warrants at the Coburns' home and warehouse, at Parrish's home and warehouse; and at The Big Top Flea Market, 9250 E. Fowler Ave., Thonotosassa.

All suspects are being prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution in Tampa.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call HEARTLAND Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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