As a result of a cooperative investigation between several Central Florida retail loss-prevention teams and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, detectives have arrested 16 suspects in a retail-theft ring that has ties to Plant City.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, beginning last month, Malynda Ford, of Lakeland, used both the Beall’s and the Beall’s Outlet locations in Plant City to shoplift and make fraudulent returns.
In April, Sheriff’s Office detectives developed 35-year-old Ford as a suspect possibly involved in an organized retail-theft ring operating in Polk County and surrounding counties after she had been observed by the Beall’s loss-prevention team acting suspiciously in several Beall’s stores. Ford has been previously arrested numerous times for retail theft.
Detectives began an in-depth investigation, conducting surveillance and determining other suspects who may be involved with Ford. During the investigation, Ford was observed and video recorded stealing merchandise from numerous department store chains, including Beall’s stores and outlets, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Stein Mart, and Winn-Dixie. She often used other individuals to drive her to the stores because her driver’s license has been suspended.
Investigators determined that Ford usually selected multiple items, such as clothing and perfume, then concealed the items beneath her clothing and left the store without paying. Ford and her associates then would return the stolen merchandise for store merchandise return cards or sell it.
Of the 16 suspects arrested during this operation, nine are receiving government assistance, including food stamps, disability and cash assistance. The approximate total monthly benefits being received by the suspects is $5,400.
TIMELINE
The following was observed by detectives and store loss-prevention personnel:
APRIL 22
Ford was observed:
• In the Beall’s Department Store (Plant City), where she stole three shirts and one pair of pants.
• In the Beall’s Outlet (Plant City), where she stole 3 shirts.
After leaving Plant City, Ford’s brother Julian Betard, of Lakeland, was observed:
• In a Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland), where he returned the shirts and pants Ford had stolen from the store in Plant City. Betard received a merchandise return card in the amount of $156.67.
• In a Beall’s Outlet (Lakeland), where he returned the 3 shirts that Ford stole from the Plant City Beall’s Outlet. Betard received a merchandise return card in the amount of $47.58.
APRIL 25
Ford was observed:
• In the Beall’s Department Store (Winter Haven), stealing seven shirts. The merchandise was later returned to a Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland), and a merchandise return for $154.63 was received).
APRIL 26
Ford was observed:
• In the Beall’s Department Store (Tampa), where she stole eight shirts.
• In a Lowe’s Store (Tampa), where she stole four drain plugs.
• In Kohl’s (Tampa), where she stole eight dresses.
• In a Beall’s Department Store (Brandon), where she stole six boxes of cologne.
• She then traveled to Plant City and entered the Beall’s Department Store, where she returned two of the shirts she had stolen earlier that day.
APRIL 27
Ford was observed:
• In the Lowe’s Store (Haines City), where she stole four drain plugs.
• In the Lowe’s (Lake Wales), where she attempted to return four stolen drain plugs, but Lowe’s refused the refund.
• In the Dillard’s Store (Lake Wales), where she stole five children’s outfits.
• She then travelled to Kohl’s (Lake Wales), where Ford stole six dresses. Ford then traveled to the Motel 6, in Lakeland, where a black Honda Accord picked her up. Video surveillance was captured of Ford with all the stolen merchandise in hand and entering the black Honda Accord.
APRIL 30
• Lake Wales Police Department was called to Kohl’s store in reference to several subjects who were observed stealing numerous items. Ford was identified as one of the subjects, and Lake Wales Police Department turned the case over to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigative team. No arrests were made at that time.
MAY 1
Ford was observed:
• In the Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland), where she stole six shirts and three boxes of fragrances.
• Traveling to the Motel 6 in Lakeland, where she picked up Kristy Rushing, 24, of Lakeland.
Rushing was observed:
• In the Beall’s store (Lakeland), where she returned the six shirts that were previously stolen. Rushing received a returned merchandise credit in the amount of $184.77.
Ford was observed:
• In the Stein Mart (Lakeland), where she stole two dresses.
• Handing over the two stolen dresses to Kristy Rushing to be returned.
Rushing was observed:
• In the Stein Mart and returning the two stolen dresses. She received a store credit for $120.
Ford and Rushing were observed:
• In a Winn-Dixie (Lakeland), where Ford stole two bottles of mouthwash, two bottle of lotions and four boxes of toothpaste.
• In a second Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland), where Rushing presented the three boxes of fragrances previously stolen by Ford for a return. The return was denied.
• Ford then met with Elula Elaine Cook near the 2900 block of South Florida Avenue (Lakeland), where Ford was observed giving the Winn-Dixie merchandise to Cook. Detectives later determined that Cook bought the merchandise from Ford.
MAY 2
Ford is observed:
• In the Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland) with another woman. The other woman steals seven shirts.
• In the Lowe’s (Commerce Point Drive, Lakeland), where four sink drainers are stolen by Ford.
• In the Beall’s store (Tampa), where Ford steals 12 shirts.
• They drive back to Lakeland and pick up 37-year-old Yolanda King.
• In Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland), where Yolanda King returns six of the 12 shirts that were stolen earlier in the day for a merchandise credit of $103.94.
• Driving to the Stein Mart (Lakeland), where Ford enters and steals three shirts and a dress. Ford exits to the vehicle and gives the four stolen items to Yolanda King, who then enters Stein Mart and returns the stolen merchandise for a store credit of about $175.
• Driving to another Beall’s (Lakeland), where Yolanda King returns six of the seven shirts previously stolen earlier that day and receives a merchandise credit of $150.17.
• Separately the same day, 26-year-old Shawnda Knight was observed by Beall’s loss prevention (Lakeland) bringing in the remaining six of the 12 shirts stolen by Ford earlier in the day for return and received a merchandise credit of $151.38. Knight is seen entering a white Trailblazer that Ford is known to drive.
MAY 3
Ford is observed:
• Driving the same white Chevy Trailblazer to Plant City, drop it off at an unknown person’s residence and then entering another car.
• They travel to the Beall’s (Brandon), where 11 shirts are stolen by Ford and the other woman.
• In a Sally Beauty shop, where she steals a pair of tweezers.
• In the Stein Mart (Brandon), where Ford steals five dresses.
• They come back to the Beall’s (Lakeland), where the other woman stole three dresses and two shirts.
• They then pick up 19-year-old Qulyshia Adams, of Lakeland.
• Driving to Stein Mart (Lakeland), where Adams returns two of the five stolen dresses and receives a store credit for an unknown amount.
• Qulyshia Adams is later observed at the Beall’s (Lakeland), where she returns four shirts previously stolen and received a store credit for $153.10.
• Ford is then dropped off at a residence in the Crystal Grove area of Lakeland, where the white Chevy Trailblazer is waiting. Ford enters the vehicle, which is then followed by the investigative team to the Cleveland Heights Country Club. She is observed going into the kitchen area of the club, where it has been verified that Eula Elaine Cook works.
MAY 5
Ford is observed:
• With 42-year-old Gerard O’Neal, of Lakeland.
• O’Neal entered the Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland) and returned four shirts previously stolen and received a merchandise credit in the amount of $206.78.
• Traveling to Stein Mart (Lakeland), where Ford is observed stealing two shirts.
• Ford is later observed meeting with a person in a Cadillac in a Lakeland-area Winn-Dixie store parking lot.
• Detectives later learned the person purchased merchandise return cards from the Beall’s Department Store.
MAY 7
Ford was observed:
• By the Kohl’s loss-prevention team (Brandon) with Lanecia Adams (Lakeland) entering the store, where Ford stole two skirts and a shirt. Ford and Adams then leave the store.
Adams was observed:
• In Kohl’s (Lakeland), where she returned the items stolen earlier in the day by Ford (two skirts and a shirt). Upon making the return she presented her identification received a merchandise return credit of $90.18
MAY 10
Ford is observed:
• Picking up Chanice Abrams on Beech Avenue (Lakeland)
• They then drive to Beall’s (Lakeland), where Abrams entered the store and returned three shirts stolen earlier by Ford. Abrams received a refund for the amount of $122.28.
• Driving to Kohl’s (Lakeland)
• Abrams entered the store and returned five dresses stolen earlier by Ford from Kohl’s (Brandon)
• They entered a Beall’s Department Store (Lakeland), where Abrams returned four shirts stolen earlier by Ford and received a refund in the amount of $132.76.
MAY 11
• Britney Watts arrives at a Beall’s (Lakeland) and returns clothing articles stolen May 10, by Ford. Watts returned the stolen merchandise and received a return credit card for the amount of $147.37.
MAY 12
• Britney Watts arrives at a Beall’s (Lakeland) to return clothing items stolen May 10, by Ford. Watts returns the clothing articles and receives a refund credit card for the amount of $101.16.
MAY 13
• Kareita Green, 38, went to the Beall’s (Lakeland) and returned three shirts she was told was stolen and received a refund credit card for the amount of $60.91. Ford paid Green $10 to return three shirts.
• Britney Watts, 24, went to the Beall’s (Lakeland). Watts returned the three shirts she was told was stolen and received a return credit card for the amount of $101.16. Ford paid Watts $10 to return the merchandise.
• Erica Davis, 33, who went to the Beall’s (Lakeland) and returned numerous clothing items she was told was stolen and received a return credit card for the amount of $395.13. Ford paid Davis $10 to make the return.
• Ray Morris, 39, of Lakeland purchased $890 worth of Beall’s refund credit cards for $350 dollars cash. Morris was told that the cards were the result of returns from stolen merchandise.
• Taurus Morris, 37, of Lakeland bought cologne and a Beall’s gift (return) card from Ford for $270. Morris knew the items he was buying were a result of retail theft.
MAY 14
• Daiquiri Willis, 31, went to the Beall’s (Lakeland) and returned cologne she was told was stolen by Ford for a refund credit card in the amount of $105.51.
• Ford arrived at Ke’Andra’s Women’s World, Lakeland, which is owned by Ray Morris. While at the store, Ford sold Ray Morris 12 dresses for $70. Morris was told the dresses were stolen.
• Ford arrived at the Cleveland Heights Golf Club, Lakeland, to meet Elula (Lulu) Cook. Ford sold Cook $280 in Beall’s refund credit cards for $140. Cook understood during the transaction that the Beall’s gift cards were obtained through the refund of stolen merchandise.
• Ford arrived back at Ke’Andra’s Women’s World. Here Ford sold $120 in hair care products to an employee of Ray Morris’s for $50. Morris and Ford negotiated the transaction during a phone call before the transaction was completed. It was represented to Morris that the products were stolen.
MAY 15
• Polk County detectives arrested 16 people involved in theft and dealing in stolen property crimes in Polk County.
• Ford sold $564.46 worth of Beall’s refund credit cards for $230 cash to Elula (Lulu) Cook. After the sale was completed, Cook was arrested without incident.
• Detectives executed a search warrant at Ke’Andra’s Women’s World. During the search, the hair products and dresses sold to the store were recovered. The products recovered have a value of $380.
• All arrested defendants were transported to the Polk County Jail.
THE ARRESTED
- Malynda Ford, D.O.B. July 09, 1978, 3916 Spoonbill Court, Lakeland; organized dealing in stolen property, grand theft
- Julian Betard, D.O.B. Sept. 02, 1980, 3916 Spoonbill Court, Lakeland; two counts dealing in stolen property dealing in stolen property
- Shawnda Knight, D.O.B. Feb. 4, 1987, 1104 Bartow RoadCircle, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Qulyshia Adams, D.O.B. July 22, 1993, 5320 Serena Drive, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Gerard O’Neal, D.O.B. March 13, 1971, 1819 Kendrick Lane, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Lanecia Adams, D.O.B. April 17, 1976, 1858 Grand Bay Circle #102, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Chanice Abrams, D.O.B. Aug. 16, 1985, 933 Beech Ave., Lakeland; three counts dealing in stolen property
- Taurus Morris, D.O.B. Sept. 28, 1975, 415 5th Street, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Ray A Morris, D.O.B. Jane. 16, 1974, 5230 Wood Circle, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Kareita Green, D.O.B. Aug. 1, 1974, 2911 Chabett Ave., Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Erica Davis, D.O.B. Feb. 4, 1980, 933 Beech Ave., Lakeland; 1 count dealing in stolen property
- Daiquiri Willis, D.O.B. Aug. 12, 1981, 830 Augusta St., Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Darrell Love, D.O.B. Sept. 27, 1976, 2850 Eight Iron Drive, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property and violation of probation
- Elula E Cook, D.O.B. Oct. 23, 1976, 5995 Beckworth Ave., Bartow; one count organized dealing in stolen property , one count trafficking in hydrocodone and possession of drug paraphernalia
- Terry F King, D.O.B. Dec. 14, 1963, 1035 Baycrest Drive, Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
- Britney Watts, D.O.B. Jan 31, 1989, 501 Hartsell Ave., Lakeland; one count dealing in stolen property
Detectives are still searching for the following suspects:
- Kristy Rushing, D.O.B. Dec. 16, 1988, 813 Ellerbe Way, Lakeland; two counts dealing in stolen property
- Yolanda King, DOB Jan. 16, 1976, 1306 Fairbanks St., Lakeland; two counts dealing in stolen property, is also a suspect in the investigation. She has not been taken into custody, but detectives are aware of her location.