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Retail Theft Ring Busted, Officials Say

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By MIKE WELLS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 25, 2008

Updated: 01/24/2008 11:33 pm

Authorities say they have brought down a multimillion dollar theft ring that has for years swiped health and beauty products from the shelves of local retailers and sold the goods on the Internet and in flea markets.

At Thursday's news conference in Polk County, members of a joint task force revealed details of "Operation Beauty Stop," a seven-month investigation that resulted in 18 arrests.

A Tampa woman is at the center of the case, authorities said. Theresa Parrish, 44, is accused of paying low-level thieves, or "boosters," to steal items from stores and then selling them through her eBay business and at flea markets.

The defendants each face one count of felony racketeering and one count of felony conspiracy to commit racketeering.

The investigation began June 26, when two Dover residents were arrested on charges of stealing $4,500 in merchandise, mostly Olay products, from a Publix supermarket in Lakeland. They were part of a crime ring that has operated for about five years and hit stores in 11 counties, officials said.

A task force was formed by 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.

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

Theresa Parrish operates Lola's Discount Health and Beauty, selling products on eBay and from booths at The Big Top Flea Market in Hillsborough County and the Webster flea market.

Officials said she shared the products with Vincent May, 46, her ex-husband, who runs a booth at International Market World, and with Steven Coburn, 46, and his wife, Kerry Coburn, 39, in Seminole County, officials said.

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

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