CHATHAM COUNTY, GA - The attorney general for Georgia announced that 11 suspects face RICO and other charges for allegedly running a multistate retail theft scheme.
On Wednesday, September 16, a Chatham County grand jury returned an indictment charging all 11 suspects with violating the Georgia RICO Act and individual counts of shoplifting, robbery, theft by taking, and theft by receiving stolen property, FOX 5 reported.
State prosecutors said that the group targeted 10 national retailers between October 2022 and September 2026, including Home Depot, Walmart, Ulta Beauty, Floor & Decor, Bath & Body Works, Sunglass Hut, DTLR, Kay Jewelers, Zales, and Great American Jewelers.
The thefts spanned 11 Georgia counties, including Cobb and Bartow, as well as store locations in Florida, South Carolina, and Virginia. The Georgia Attorney General's Office said the suspects targeted retailers through organized shoplifting and snatch-and-grab jewelry thefts.
Prosecutors allege the group made off with luxury goods ranging from Rolex watches and gold jewelry to power tools, high-end electronics, designer sunglasses, and perfume, then resold the items on Meta platforms like Instagram.
The 11 defendants, mostly from Savannah and Pooler, have been identified as 31-year-old Shawntavius Shanell Butler, 33-year-old Rashamel Okuise Gardner, 54-year-old Eugene Edward Sibert, 37-year-old Lakytra Marie Gardner, 35-year-old Jasmonique Lavon Franklin, 51-year-old Deaunbrey Antonio Gardner, 19-year-old Dominique A. Giles Jr., 26-year-old Zyquie Hakeem Gardner, 24-year-old Javari Javontay Romain Larry, 26-year-old Shi'heed Ja'mill Small, and 33-year-old Cedric Latroy Gardner.
State officials have not confirmed if all 11 defendants are currently in custody or if outstanding arrest warrants remain active. Law enforcement stated that while confirmed losses exceed $200,000, the full financial impact across all four states is still being evaluated.
The case was investigated by the Attorney General's Organized Retail Crime Unit alongside the Savannah Police Department, Chatham County Police Department, Pooler Police Department, Garden City Police Department, and more than a dozen municipal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the Southeast.
Private asset protection teams from several of the victimized retail chains also assisted, WTOC reported. "Organized retail crime poses a significant threat to our state, leading to billions in lost revenue, thousands of lost jobs, and increased violence against employees,” Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement. “If you target our retailers, we’re coming for you, and we will ensure that you’re prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther commended the regional teamwork, calling the indictment a testament to the collaboration between local officers and state partners.
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