Under is an official assertion from Florida Lawyer Normal James Uthmeir concerning latest arrests of unlawful immigrants who’re suspected of operating a nationwide retail theft scheme.
Lawyer Normal James Uthmeier introduced the arrests of Willy Jesus Diaz Pelayo and Maikol Eduardo Garcia Sanchez, Venezuelan nationals concerned in a nationwide retail theft scheme concentrating on Ulta Magnificence shops.
“Bringing collectively native regulation enforcement and our Statewide Prosecutors is why we launched the Retail Theft Particular Activity Power,” stated Lawyer Normal James Uthmeier. “Retail theft just isn’t a victimless crime; each client feels the consequences when retailers are pressured to boost their costs. We are going to push for the hardest penalties attainable on these criminals to guard companies and shoppers.”
This investigation was a joint effort between the Palm Seashore Gardens Police Division, the Lawyer Normal’s Workplace of Statewide Prosecution, and Florida’s Retail Theft Investigative Particular Activity Power.
Investigators discovered that from January 1 to November 28, 2025, Pelayo and Sanchez dedicated over 40 thefts at Ulta Magnificence shops throughout Florida, from Jacksonville to Miami. They posed as prospects, hid costly perfumes and colognes of their pants, and left with out paying. Pelayo and Sanchez are tied to a sequence of Ulta Magnificence thefts nationwide, totaling $166,000 in losses, with $47,000 misplaced in Florida.
The pair, each Venezuelan nationals with ICE detainers, face felony fees: Pelayo with one depend and Sanchez with two counts of second-degree Organized Retail Theft.
This case will probably be prosecuted by Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Chris Olowin. Pelayo and Sanchez withstand 15 and 30 years within the Division of Corrections, respectively. Each will probably be deported upon completion of their sentences.
