COLUMBUS, GA – A sophisticated, multi-state theft ring targeting Sam’s Club stores has landed several Columbus-area residents in federal prison, with sentences handed down last week for the brazen scheme that cost the retail giant $900,567. The operation, spanning from March 2018 to February 2019, involved meticulously swapping inexpensive goods for high-value items and reselling them online.
Brian Cowman, 46, of Fortson, Georgia, the alleged ringleader, received the longest sentence – 46 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to transport stolen goods. Cowman reportedly profited handsomely, even using the ill-gotten gains for a down payment on a new home, according to U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. Marcel Crawford, 68, of Columbus, received 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of the same conspiracy. Ernest Mitchell, 55, of Columbus, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, also followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in the conspiracy.
The crew operated across a wide swath of the country, hitting Sam’s Club locations in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Their method was deceptively simple: emptying boxes of cheap items like paper goods and replacing them with pricier merchandise – Bose speakers, ink cartridges, razors, DVDs, and even pet supplies. They’d then pay for the box of cheap goods and walk out with a haul of stolen items. Mildred Alarcon, 48, of Fortson, received three years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of false statements related to the scheme.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Crawford delivered the stolen goods to Cowman’s Columbus home or a storage unit rented by Cowman. Cowman, fully aware the merchandise was stolen, then offloaded it through his eBay store, “rockislandoutdoorsllc.” Between March 2017 and February 2019, Cowman completed at least 6,474 sales transactions, many featuring the stolen Sam’s Club goods. A search of Cowman’s home and storage unit yielded three boxes of stolen merchandise and items valued at approximately $61,000.
Federal authorities say Cowman funneled a staggering $412,900 from his PayPal account into his personal bank account in 2018 and early 2019. Crawford, meanwhile, estimated he received between $30,000 and $45,000 from Cowman over the year and a half he supplied the stolen goods. “Brian Cowman profited from this theft ring, reaping hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Leary. “These types of large-scale schemes have negative consequences for those of us who do the right thing.”
Clint Bush, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Albany, Georgia office, emphasized the agency’s commitment to combating such fraud. “These defendants operated a complex multi-state theft ring that was costly to the economic well-being of our communities,” Bush stated. “The United States Secret Service…will continue to investigate, arrest and support the successful prosecution of the criminals who choose to commit this and other types of fraud.” There is no parole for any of the defendants.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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