Five Galloway Residents Among Those Indicted in $100,000 Shoplifting Ring: Attorney General

A total of 13 people, including two alleged leaders, were indicted on charges they conspired in a shoplifting ring in South Jersey that stole more than $100,000 worth of clothing from Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced Tuesday morning.

Alicia C. Blackburne, 27, of Galloway, and Robert J. Campbell, 29, who lives with Blackburne in Galloway, were indicted as the alleged ring leaders. They were indicted on charges of second-degree crime of leader of an organized retail theft enterprise, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree shoplifting and third-degree shoplifting.

Shoplifting is graded as a second-degree crime under New Jersey law when it involves thefts totaling more than $1,000 in merchandise committed as part of an organized retail theft enterprise. The second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison.

The following 11 people were also charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree shoplifting and third-degree shoplifting:

1. Courtney L. Perkins, 21, of Mays Landing, N.J.,
2. Amanda A. Rivera, 29, of Cape May Court House, N.J.,
3. Julias A. Williams, 57, of Cape May Court House, N.J.,
4. Megan A. Flinn, 20, of Galloway, N.J.,
5. Benett L. Bollinger, 35, of Smithville, N.J.,
6. Jennifer Distefano, 28, of Smithville, N.J.,
7. William H. Lowe, 31, of Cape May Court House, N.J.,
8. Edward J. Vanaman, 26, of Cape May Court House, N.J.,
9. Priscilla E. Laboy, 20, of Petersburg, N.J.,
10. Dylan A. Gallo, 21, of Villas, N.J., and
11. Ashley P. Blackburne, 20, of Cape May Court House, N.J., who is Alicia Blackburne’s niece.

The ring allegedly targeted Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Campbell allegedly drove Blackburne to each store, and she allegedly entered with a large shoulder bag. Blackburne allegedly placed several high-end items of designer women’s clothing into the bag and took them to a bathroom. She then allegedly removed any security devices. She allegedly then left the stores with the stolen items and handed them off to a co-conspirator who rode with her and Campbell or drove separately.

That person allegedly then went into the store immediately and conducted a non-receipt return of the stolen clothing, obtaining a TJX Corporation gift card.

TJX is the parent company for Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Home Goods. The value of the gift cards ranged from a few hundred dollars to over $800.

It is alleged that Blackburne or Campbell typically pawned the cards at pawn shops to receive approximately half of the face value in cash.

It is alleged that between July of 2014 and August of 2015, the ring stole approximately $102,000 from the targeted stores using this method.

“Organized retail theft cost merchants $44 billion last year nationwide, according to an industry estimate,” Hoffman said. “It’s easy to see how the losses mount when you’re dealing with thieves as methodical and prolific as the alleged members of this theft ring. We’ll continue to work closely with the industry to investigate and aggressively prosecute these criminal enterprises.”

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

The attached images of Alicia Blackburne, Robert Campbell, Courtney Perkins, Amanda Rivera, Julias Williams, Megan Finn, Benett Bollinger, Jennifer DiStefano, William Lowe, Edward Vanaman, Priscilla Laboy, Dylan Gallo, and Ashley Blackburne were provided by the Attorney General’s Office