This undated photograph provided by Tulsa County Sheriff's Office shows Linda Been. State and national authorities announced Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 that they arrested and charged much than 2 twelve radical for taking portion successful a multistate shoplifting ringing that made disconnected with much than $10 cardinal successful stolen goods implicit the past fewer years. They allege that Been, whose sanction is listed successful jailhouse records arsenic Linda Gann, would supply shoplifters with a elaborate database of items to bargain and wage for their expenses erstwhile they traveled retired of state. (Tulsa County Sheriff's Office via AP) (Uncredited)

TULSA, Okla. – State and national authorities announced Thursday that they arrested and charged much than 2 twelve radical for taking portion successful a multistate shoplifting ringing that made disconnected with much than $10 cardinal successful stolen goods implicit the past fewer years, astir of which was over-the-counter medications.

U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson successful Tulsa and Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor announced authorities and national charges against 29 defendants. Johnson said 25 of those charged had been arrested and 4 others were inactive astatine large.

Prosecutors said the defendants took portion successful a conspiracy to bargain mostly over-the-counter medications from retailers specified arsenic Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, CVS and GNC successful Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. The ringleaders would past put for the merchantability of the items connected websites specified arsenic Amazon and eBay.

“Consumers and businesses incur a precocious terms for thieves who perpetrate larcenies and nett by selling their stolen goods to well-organized theft rings,” said Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin, whose section launched its probe successful 2019 aft an organized transgression researcher from a pharmacy retailer shared accusation astir bulk thefts from its Tulsa-area locations. “Thieves should instrumentality notice. Tulsa is not going to capitulate and let criminals to disrupt commerce successful our city.”

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Prosecutors allege that a 48-year-old Tulsa woman, Linda Been, led the ring, which netted an estimated $4.5 cardinal from the merchantability of stolen goods specified arsenic Flonase, Mucinex, Nexium and Allegra to fencing organizations extracurricular of Oklahoma that past sold the merchandise connected e-commerce sites. They allege that Been, whose sanction is listed successful jailhouse records arsenic Linda Gann, would supply shoplifters with a elaborate database of items to bargain and wage for their expenses erstwhile they traveled retired of state. She besides would wage for the shoplifters' enslaved if they were arrested, prosecutors allege.

State and national tribunal records don't bespeak whether Been has an lawyer who mightiness talk connected her behalf.

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