The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has issued a “Wanted” announcement for five people on multiple charges related to racketeering and grand theft. According to a PCSO Facebook post, the department’s Organized Retail Crime Unit is looking for five people who worked together in bilking more than $30,000 from Lowe’s Home Improvement stores between May 1 and June 10. Their operation involved fraudulent purchases, returns and gift cards. A total of 40 separate fraudulent purchases were made at Lowe’s stores in 11 counties throughout Florida, including Polk.
All five members of this criminal group have active warrants for racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, grand theft, trafficking in stolen property, cheating and altering identification marks. They are believed to have left Florida, perhaps heading northeast. Maple Shade, New Jersey; Martin DeSilva of Schenectady, New York; Sofia Asano of Rego Park, New York; and Eric Fisher of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of these five, please call Detective Thomas at 863.298.6200, or to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800.226.TIPS (8477). Anonymity is guaranteed. [For more: The Ledger]