Below is an official statement from the office of Florida Attorney General James Usmayer.
Attorney General James Usmayer announced today that he is convening a Retail Theft Investigations Task Force to aggressively combat organized retail theft in Florida.
“Instead of locking toothpaste behind plexiglass like California and New York do, we will take decisive action to combat organized retail theft,” said Attorney General James Usmayer. “Shoppers suffer when retail theft drives up prices. This partnership between law enforcement and the Florida Retail Federation will help keep prices down and criminals behind bars.”
“Anyone who chooses to commit a crime in Florida will be swiftly dealt with,” said Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVeigh. “By ensuring seamless coordination between law enforcement agencies across the state, the task force will enhance our ability to remove criminals from our streets faster.”
“The creation of this statewide task force reinforces Florida’s standing as a law and order state,” said Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters. “This state and our leaders have prioritized protecting our law-abiding citizens and promoting a thriving business culture.”
“The Florida Retail Federation is grateful for the bold leadership of Attorney General James Usmayer and our law enforcement partners in the fight against organized retail theft,” said R. Scott Sharry, Florida Retail Federation President and CEO. “The cross-agency collaboration enabled by this task force will not only bring criminals to justice, but will also protect Florida businesses, retail team members, and consumers.”
“Home Depot is proud to be part of this solution to a growing challenge in communities across the county,” said Michael Tribony, Home Depot Store Manager.
The Retail Theft Investigations Task Force provides local law enforcement with statewide tools and resources, removing jurisdictional barriers and allowing investigators to close cases launched with stronger charges. Collaboration enables streamlined investigations and eliminates barriers to law enforcement. The task force’s main goal is to ensure prompt action against organized retail theft rings and repeat offenders.
Last year, Governor DeSantis signed HB 549, which increases penalties for organized retail theft and makes certain repeat offenders eligible for 30 years in prison. Since then, Attorney General Usmayer’s Statewide Prosecutor’s Office has dismantled a large-scale organized retail theft ring and secured multiple felony charges. Since Attorney General Usmayer’s appointment, 55 defendants have been charged with organized retail theft, and prosecutors across the state have secured 52 convictions on these charges.
Retail theft results in significant financial losses to Florida businesses each year. As a result, many business owners and businesses are forced to raise prices, and Florida consumers are punished. By strengthening collaboration between law enforcement and prosecutors, Florida is prioritizing safe communities where businesses can thrive and families can buy groceries.
Attorney General Usmayer’s Office of the Statewide Prosecutor will begin providing additional information to local law enforcement agencies. Interested agents should register at retailtaskforce@myfloridalegal.com.
