Four Members of Organized Retail Theft Group Sentenced to Federal Prison

Memphis, TN - Four Memphians were recently sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an organized retail theft conspiracy that resulted in millions of dollars in goods being shoplifted and mailed across the nation through the U.S. Postal Service. Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.

Evidence presented in court revealed that between approximately April 2018 and May 2020, Latasha Brooks, 42, Coyoti Carter, 47, and Tarnisha Woods, 49, shoplifted large quantities of health and beauty products including memory supplements, hair regrowth treatments, weight loss aids, and allergy medicines. During that time, Keith Guy, 38, paid Brooks for the stolen goods. Brooks in turn paid Carter and Woods for their contributions of stolen product. Guy then sold the stolen product to resellers over the internet and used the U.S. Postal Service to ship hundreds of parcels containing the goods to locations across the United States. The investigation revealed that the estimated retail value of the products stolen by the conspiracy was over $4 million.

The defendants were indicted in December 2023 by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit interstate shipment of stolen property. The defendants each pleaded guilty and have been sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. On August 12, 2024, Woods was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On August 13, 2024, Brooks was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On August 22, 2024, Carter was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On September 13, 2024, Guy was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service Memphis Field Office.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.

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