A $7.5 million theft ring that was allegedly stealing and reselling retail items was busted by police in a wealthy Chicago suburb.

Eight people have been apprehended by police in Wilmette, a wealthy suburb north of Chicago, for their involvement in a ring that is accused of stealing $7.5 million worth of goods from several retail establishments within and outside of Chicago.
The Wilmette Police Department (WPD) executed 12 search warrants on Oct. 6 in Chicago, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Bolingbrook, and three in California, aided by partners from local, federal, and retail-focused law enforcement. After about a year of investigation, the $7.5 million worth of stolen property was recovered.
“The good police work is the main reason I’m proud.According to Fox News Digital, WPD Chief Kyle Murphy, “It’s having detectives who are knowledgeable and skilled and who are able to handle a complex, organized retail crime investigation.”It’s working well with our private retailers and the organized retail crime groups that they run.We would not be able to successfully investigate or prosecute this case without that partnership.”

The leaders of the ring would hire people to steal from major Chicago-area retailers, mostly from over-the-counter items.Murphy explained that the thieves would then resell the stolen items to ring leaders’ storefronts, where they would earn “10 to 20 cents on the dollar.”The ring leaders would then attempt to sell the items online and ship them to the East and West Coasts by stripping them of their identifying retailer information.One officer made an initial arrest for retail theft and inquired about the suspect’s plans to sell stolen goods.According to Murphy, the suspect gave the officer a location, which set off a larger investigation into the theft ring.
Retail organized crime is on the rise.According to the police chief’s explanation, “it has a negative economic impact on retailers.”The most pressing issue for us is safety.On third-party online marketplaces, the majority of these over-the-counter medications, allergy products, and healthcare products are resold.The consumer is unaware of the location from which they purchase expired medications.”
The theft ring has led to multiple charges against each of the eight suspects.
Hani Hamad, 51, is facing charges of theft, money laundering, wire fraud, and filing a false income tax return in the Chicago area.The 48-year-old Iaad Hamad faces charges of organizing a continuing financial crime organization, theft, money laundering, and failing to file an income tax return.The 41-year-old Michael Beals is being accused of failing to file an income tax return and continuing a financial crime enterprise.Theft, money laundering, wire fraud, and filing a false income tax return are among the charges brought against Fe Kiesha Hamlin, 41;The charges against Markell Spencer, 35, include conspiracy to launder money and maintaining a financial business.
Dyland Bryant, 28, is facing charges of theft, money laundering, and conspiracy to launder money in California.Theft, money laundering, and conspiracy to launder money are all charges brought against 27-year-old Donald Kimball;Additionally, Brett Pendleton, 26, faces charges of conspiracy to launder money, theft, and money laundering.
They each have bail ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.
According to police, the defendants used their illegal proceeds to fund the operation by purchasing residential properties and setting up multiple bank accounts in an effort to conceal where they got the money from selling the stolen goods.