Bi-Coastal Busts: Delaware and California Charge ORC Suspects with Felonies
Officials in California and Delaware cracked down on two triple threats—alleged retail crime participants that came in packs of three—this week.
Each state is charging three men with a variety of felonies based on their alleged participation in organized retail crime. On the East Coast, police nabbed suspects they allege had stolen more than $20,000 in merchandise; on the West Coast, California brought charges against suspects the state alleges grabbed over $300,000 worth of merchandise.
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Delaware
Delaware State Police arrested three men from Queens, N.Y., for organized retail theft after they allegedly shoplifted from multiple Rehoboth Beach outlets on March 16.
A state trooper carried out a traffic stop because, according to police, the driver of a white Honda Odyssey tailgated another driver on the state’s Coastal Highway. According to police, Oscar Mosquera, 44, drove the vehicle with two passengers: Alex Toro-Londono, 48, and Dagoberto Vargas-Hernandez, 28.
Police said that Mosquera could not produce proof of insurance for the vehicle. Upon running a computer inquiry on Mosquera, police said they determined he had a warrant out for his arrest, which had been issued by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey.
After taking Mosquera into custody, police searched the vehicle and allege that they found “several tools commonly used for shoplifting,” as well as more than $20,000 worth of stolen merchandise from Nike, Claire’s, Victoria’s Secret, Brooks Brothers and more.
The police department said the men could not provide proof of purchase for the merchandise, and noted that officers found a counterfeit $100 bill on Vargas-Hernandez.
Each of the suspects have been charged with felony counts of organized retail crime, conspiracy in the second degree and possession of shoplifters’ tools. Vargas-Hernandez faces an additional felony charge for forgery in the first degree.
California
The California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, announced Tuesday that the state would pursue charges against three men for alleged participation in an organized retail crime ring in Southern California. Together, the alleged thieves face 27 felony charges.
According to California Department of Justice records, Isaiah Abdullah, 26, Ishmael Baptist, 25, and Nickolas Mallory, 26, each face organized retail theft, grand theft and robbery charges.
The state alleges that Abdullah, Baptist and Mallory stole approximately $309,752 in merchandise from stores throughout Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Alameda and Santa Clara counties between December 2022 and February of this year.
The state alleges that the suspects “conducted smash-and-grab-style thefts by running into the stores, grabbing purses and other high-dollar items before running out.” Affected stores include Burberry, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and more.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, launched in August 2023, collaborated with local police departments throughout Southern California to investigate the cases and the suspects’ alleged involvement.
Alan Hamilton, chief of detectives for the LAPD, said this case shows retail crime has surpassed local boundaries.
“The Los Angeles Police Department values the partnership of our local and state partners as organized retail theft crime is no longer local, rather regional,” Hamilton said. “A strong economy, and a feeling of safety should not be disrupted in any community by a delinquent few. We will continue to strengthen public safety and build trust with our businesses and consumers alike, through the incredible work of our local and regional partners.”
Bonta said police and prosecutors will continue working together on retail crime-related cases.
“Organized retail theft harms businesses, retailers, and consumers—and puts the public at risk,” said Bonta. “Organized retail crime has been plaguing our state for far too long. I want to thank our local law enforcement partners for their work in apprehending the suspects in this case. The California Department of Justice and its partners will continue fighting to keep our communities, businesses, and consumers safe from retail theft and other crimes.”
