BIRMINGHAM, AL – A pair of Shelby County operators are set to plead guilty to running a sophisticated, multi-state fencing ring that peddled over $1.5 million in stolen merchandise, federal authorities announced today. STEVE RANDALL SCOTT, 59, of Shelby County and Puerto Rico, and SARAH VICKERS, also known as Sarah Elizabeth Cahill and Sarah Vickers Morrow, 39, of Shelby County, face federal charges after a year-long investigation ripped the operation apart.
The scheme, according to court documents, wasn’t about snatching and grabbing. SCOTT and VICKERS actively encouraged shoplifters to bring their ill-gotten gains to a network of pawn shops across the Birmingham metro area. These weren’t your typical dusty storefronts; the operation included businesses operating under names like Cashmax, Check Exchange, Cash 101, Cash Plus and Scott’s Jewelry and Pawn. VICKERS allegedly managed the day-to-day operations, paying thieves a cut of the value before reselling the goods online.
The stolen merchandise wasn’t limited to cheap trinkets. Investigators found evidence of power tools, graphing calculators, Fitbit activity trackers, vacuum cleaners, designer purses, and even electric toothbrushes flowing through the ring. The goods, pilfered from major retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Home Depot, were then hawked on Amazon and eBay, shipped to buyers across the country. U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town estimates the total loss to area retailers between $550,000 and a staggering $1.5 million.
The Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force brought the house of cards tumbling down on October 14, 2016, raiding 12 of SCOTT’s locations and arresting 16 people, including SCOTT and VICKERS. The raid yielded two tractor-trailers packed with stolen goods – over 5,000 items valued at a minimum of $500,000. The duo admits to moving at least another $500,000 in stolen property through online sales. SCOTT has already begun forfeiting assets gained from the scheme and is no longer operating the businesses.
“These defendants encouraged thieves to bring stolen retail merchandise to their pawn shops to fuel an illicit online business,” Town stated. “Thanks to the outstanding work of the Secret Service, our partners at the Jefferson County District Attorneys’ Office and local law enforcement, we have been able to shut down a widespread fencing operation in our district.” Special Agent in Charge Michael Williams highlighted the effectiveness of the Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force, a collaborative effort involving multiple local police departments and prosecutors.
Both SCOTT and VICKERS have signed plea agreements and will formally enter guilty pleas before a judge. They each face up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000. The case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly localized crimes can have far-reaching consequences and that federal agencies are actively working to dismantle these operations and bring the perpetrators to justice. The investigation received assistance from eBay.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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