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Saturday, January 11, 2003
Baby formula shoplifting ring uncovered
MEDFORD, Ore. -- Police in Medford say they've uncovered a band of professional shoplifters who steal infant formula and sell it at flea markets internationally.
Police this week seized 577 cans of formula, valued at $6,400, after security employees at the Wal-Mart in Talent spotted the alleged formula thieves.
Police eventually stopped the suspects' white minivan for a traffic infraction and discovered the vehicle was loaded with 285 cans of powdered formula.
"We opened the back end and cans just came spilling out," Medford police Detective Sue Campbell said.
Four people in the van were arrested on charges of first-degree theft and of being illegal aliens. Because the four, who are from Honduras, lacked proper identification, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service filed immigration charges.
Arrested were Merlin Rodiver Sabillon, 37; Prospero Milton Lopez-Rios, 30; Elim Castellanos-Pineda, 26; and Ana Patricia Rodriguez, 19. They were being held at the Jackson County Jail without bail.
"This is linked with a nationwide criminal conspiracy," said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. He said police in Florida recently raided a warehouse filled with stolen formula headed to Latin America.
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