A South Florida couple is facing charges in connection with a statewide retail theft ring that bought and sold over $1.1 million worth of stolen baby formula, authorities said.
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Mohammed Alsaidi, 59, and Zeina Abdul-Hassan Sou Zabib, 49, of Lake Worth, are facing charges including conspiracy to commit racketeering and dealing in stolen property, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.
The charges follow a 15-month investigation that found Alsaidi and Zabib ran a fencing operation out of a Lake Worth home and a warehouse in Davie, authorities said.
The operation involved professional shoplifters, known as boosters, who would steal the baby formula from stores like Publix, Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Winn-Dixie and sell them to Alsaidi and Zabib for $10 per can, about a fifth of the retail price.
Alsaidi and Zabib would store, distribute and resell the formula for profit, authorities said.
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The operation has been tied to over 150 baby formula thefts throughout Florida between 2024 and 2026, authorities said.
“Stealing baby formula away from parents who rely on it to feed their children is unconscionable,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “This couple sat at the top of a criminal enterprise that paid thieves to clear Florida shelves and then resold the stolen formula for more than a million dollars in profit. Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime, and we will continue to crack down on these enterprises to keep prices low.”
Nine boosters connected with the operation have already been charged, including Kenneth L. Jones Jr., who’s accused of more than 50 thefts of baby formula totaling over $70,000.
“We can’t overlook the impact these crimes have on our community,” Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. “When parents can’t find baby formula on store shelves, it creates fear of a shortage and can force families to search elsewhere or stock up when they find it, further limiting availability for other families who depend on it.”
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