Tulsa Woman Sentenced to 64 Months for Running Massive Retail Theft Ring
A 51-year-old Tulsa woman who led a large-scale retail theft operation has been sentenced to 64 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Linda Ann Been, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell for her role in a nationwide retail theft ring, known as Operation Booster Buster.
Been was found guilty of one count of conspiracy, 165 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 40 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
According to court documents, Been was indicted in January 2022 along with 23 co-defendants and pleaded guilty in July 2022. The scheme involved recruiting and paying ‘boosters’ to steal property from various retail stores, including Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, and Walgreens, and then selling and shipping the stolen property to operations outside of Oklahoma, where it would be sold online.
Been coached the boosters on what to shoplift and paid them for the stolen goods. If a booster was arrested, Been would either pay their bond or put money on their jail account to ensure they wouldn’t cooperate with law enforcement.
Twenty of Been’s co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced. Been was allowed to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger prosecuted the case.
As part of her sentence, Been was ordered to pay $43,197.76 in restitution. The case is a stark reminder of the scope and complexity of retail theft operations and the need for law enforcement to remain vigilant in combating these crimes.
Been’s sentencing brings an end to a lengthy and complex investigation that involved multiple agencies and jurisdictions. The case highlights the importance of cooperation and partnership between law enforcement agencies in bringing complex cases to justice.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
