A Florida man has repaid $22,000 and was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing Rogaine and other items from dozens of Ohio stores.
Andres W. Arias, 36, of Boca Raton, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Warren County Common Pleas Court to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell announced.
Arias worked within a criminal network between Florida and New Jersey to steal about $22,000 worth of merchandise from Walgreens stores in Cuyahoga County and Summit County, as well as stores in two southwest Ohio counties, officials said.
As part of the scheme, he flew to targeted cities, rented vehicles and drove to the stores. Once inside, he concealed items including Rogaine, Prevagen and Alli in false pockets in his pants and left without paying for them, and then shipped the stolen merchandise to associates in New Jersey who deposited money in his bank account, officials said.
"As a result of the hard work of law enforcement and prosecutors, this defendant, who stole thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from Ohio stores, has paid restitution and will be serving time for his actions," DeWine said.
