CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Court Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. has handed down prison sentences to six members of an organized retail crime ring that sold and distributed over $16 million in stolen over-the-counter (“OTC”) products, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The prison sentences imposed on the six defendants range from 18 to 86 months’ imprisonment and include an order of restitution totaling $4,035,626. Judge Cogburn also ordered forfeiture of over $17,000 in cash, 20 motor vehicles, two real estate properties and a forfeiture money judgment of $7 million.
U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by Russell F. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Division; Jeannine A. Hammett, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI); Chief James W. Buie of Gaston County Police Department; and Chief Stacy Conley, of the Gastonia Police Department.
In June 2011, a total of six defendants were charged with and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. The defendants are, Bonnie Knight Bridges, 63, and Kimberley Bridges Morris, 37, both of Bessemer City, N.C.; Michael David Morris, 40, of Charlotte; Darlene Bridges Schoener, 39, and William Christopher Schoener, 33, both of Kings Mountain, N.C.; and Darryl Keith Brock, 45, of Cowpens, S.C.
Tonight, Judge Cogburn sentenced Kimberley Morris and Darlene Schoener to serve 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Michael Morris was sentenced to 84 months in prison and two years of supervised release. William Schoener was sentenced to 86 months in prison and two years of supervised release. The defendants also were ordered to pay $4,035,636 in restitution.
Judge Cogburn sentenced Bonnie Bridges on October 19, 2012, to serve 70 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered her to pay $4,035,636 in restitution. Judge Cogburn sentenced Darryl Keith Brock on October 30, 2012, to serve 20 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $2,128,059.
According to court records and court hearings, the defendants had participated in what is known as Organized Retail Crime (“ORC”) and Organized Retail Theft (“ORT”), an annual multi-billion crime affecting retail merchants.
Related Federal Cases
- Six Sentenced In Multi-million Dollar Stolen Goods Case, North Carolina 2012 · North Carolina
- Six Sentenced In Multi-million Dollar Stolen Goods Case, North Carolina 2012 · North Carolina
- Six Sentenced In Multi-million Dollar Stolen Goods Case, North Carolina 2012 · North Carolina
- Six Sentenced In Multi-million Dollar Stolen Goods Case, North Carolina 2012 · North Carolina
- Six Sentenced In Multi-million Dollar Stolen Goods Case, North Carolina 2012 · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Organized Crime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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