New task force targeting organized retail theft makes firsts arrests in NW Ohio

WOOD COUNTY, Ohio — Two people accused of fraudulently purchasing gift cards with stolen credit card information have become the first individuals arrested by a new task force aimed at combating organized retail theft in northwest Ohio.

James Haley, 30, of Columbus, and Shondel Tyshon Smith, 27, of Reynoldsburg, were arrested May 28 by investigators with the Northwest Ohio Regional Retail Crime Task Force, according to a press release from Attorney General Dave Yost’s office. They face fifth-degree felony charges of identity fraud and forgery.

The investigation began after Walmart staff in Perrysburg Township reported suspicious gift card transactions. Authorities said the suspects were using credit card information belonging to a Florida resident to buy multiple gift cards. A laptop and several payment cards were also recovered.

Yost, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and Perrysburg Township Police Chief Matt Gazarek announced the arrests Tuesday, calling the operation an early success for the newly formed task force.

“Organized retail theft victimizes the entire marketplace, from the merchants and producers to the consumers who are impacted by rising costs,” Yost said. “And this is just the beginning.”

The task force was created under the recently enacted Fight Organized Retail Crime and Empower Law Enforcement Act (FORCE). The law allows for the creation of regional collaborations to address organized retail theft, which costs Ohio businesses an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion each year, according to the attorney general’s office.

Yost’s office said these crimes typically involve groups stealing merchandise from multiple stores and reselling it for profit. Retailers often raise prices to offset these losses.

The task force includes members of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Perrysburg Township Police Department and operates under the attorney general’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.

“We are looking forward to making a serious impact on organized criminals and gangs stealing billions of dollars every year from retail stores across the State of Ohio,” Wasylyshyn said.

“Many victims of credit card fraud don’t even realize their information has been compromised until it’s too late,” Gazarek said. “It’s our purpose and goal to bring down the fraud organizations that are coming to our area.”

“Organized retail crime is a growing menace to our communities, and this task force is a powerful tool to confront and combat it head-on,” state Rep. Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg), who helped lead the legislation behind the FORCE Act, said.