RLP NEWS
EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Authorities have charged two Abington Township residents, along with a Philadelphia resident, as leaders of a sophisticated organized retail theft ring that targeted nearly 1,000 stores across nine states, primarily in southeastern Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia area. The group is accused of stealing merchandise and manipulating return policies, amassing over $850,000 in fraudulent payouts, according to Attorney General Michelle Henry and the Pennsylvania State Police.
The three primary suspects, identified as Davon Whitfield, 40, of Roslyn; Naima Scott, 47, of Abington; and Zonay Griffin, 26, of Philadelphia, face multiple felony charges including corrupt organizations, organized retail theft, forgery, and conspiracy.
Investigators say the group frequently stole merchandise from T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls stores, later altering receipts and exploiting return policies to obtain cash or store credit. These credits were then used to make additional purchases, and refunds were often manipulated to deposit funds directly into the suspects’ accounts. The scheme resulted in approximately 1,500 fraudulent transactions, totaling over $700,000 in payouts.
“This was a sophisticated, highly profitable scheme involving hundreds of transactions circumventing return policies — but make no mistake about it, this conduct is theft,” said Attorney General Henry. “We extend our thanks to the Pennsylvania State Police and our team, along with the grand jurors, for their thorough investigation.”
The charges follow months of investigation by the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Unit and the Pennsylvania State Police’s Organized Crime Unit. The findings were presented to a grand jury, leading to charges against a total of nine individuals involved in the elaborate scheme, which dates back to 2022. In addition to the three alleged ringleaders, six others — Shakeira Vivan, Miara Armstead, Harry Anderson, Lamar Washington, Jasmine Reese, and Myles Hartman — also face charges.
“These crimes impact not only retailers but the communities they serve, driving up the prices of essential goods,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “The Pennsylvania State Police and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting our communities from these selfish acts.”
This case highlights the ongoing collaboration between law enforcement agencies in their efforts to curb organized retail theft and protect consumers from the broader economic impact.