LANSING (WWJ) - A 64-year-old Detroit man was arraigned Friday on five counts of Organized Retail Fraud for his part in allegedly stealing tens-of-thousands of dollars from multiple Michigan Sam's Club stores.
In April, Michigan State Police and Sam's Club investigators began investigating a group conducting "push-out thefts," whereby suspects loaded carts with merchandise and walked out the front door without making any purchase.
Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel announced that Kevin Tansil was arraigned before Judge Vikki Bayeh Haley in the 67th District Court in Grand Blanc Friday after allegedly helping in the suspected theft and resale ring targeting the big box stores across mid- and southeast-Michigan.
Tansil is said to have taken part in the crimes at Sam's Clubs in Auburn Hills, Grand Blanc, Lansing, and Ypsilanti.
The group went for big dollar items, targeting bottled liquor, electronic equipment, and sea food. The state alleges the group to be responsible for stealing more than $80,000 worth of product.
Organized retail crime entails coordinated efforts to steal product from retailers with the intent to resell legitimately or illegitimately.
The AG’s newly established Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Unit operating with Michigan State Police as the ‘FORCE’ Team handled the case against Tansil.
Tansil could face more charges in the future.
"Our FORCE Team and the Organized Retail Crime Unit are working hand in hand with retail companies to investigate and prosecute these coordinated theft and resale schemes,” AG Nessel said in a Press Release.
“In only its first year of operation, the FORCE Team has already brought multiple charges against the operators of these often sophisticated crime rings that cost Michigan retailers millions of dollars every year.”
The ‘FORCE’ Team is dedicated to working collaboratively with retailers and local law enforcement agencies to combat organized retail crime. This is a first-in-the-nation unit, unique in the 50 states as being the first such unit with embedded, dedicated staff from the Department of Attorney General.
Those with evidence of organized retail fraud are encouraged to email the 'FORCE' Team at MSP-FORCE@michigan.gov.