Investigators found that the group had been committing crimes since 2021 and that they had targeted a large number of establishments.
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Brian Fleming and Ladarion Anderson, both 31 and from Lancaster, were arrested for their role in an alleged organized crime ring involving more than $400,000 in stolen Lego sets.
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Investigators say the men and co-conspirators would buy cheap items from the store and then alter the receipts to make it look like they bought expensive Lego sets. Someone would then go back in, grab the expensive sets and walk back out. If they were stopped, they would show the altered receipt.
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The thefts occurred across Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Pennsylvania.
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DPS says there will likely be more arrests made in the case.
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Brian Fleming and Ladarion Anderson, both 31 and from Lancaster, were arrested for their role in an alleged organized crime ring involving more than $400,000 in stolen Lego sets.
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Investigators say the men and co-conspirators would buy cheap items from the store and then alter the receipts to make it look like they bought expensive Lego sets. Someone would then go back in, grab the expensive sets and walk back out. If they were stopped, they would show the altered receipt.
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The thefts occurred across Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Pennsylvania.
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DPS says there will likely be more arrests made in the case.
DALLAS — Two men from North Texas were arrested by authorities on suspicion of being involved in a multistate criminal enterprise involving Lego pieces that were stolen for over half a million dollars.
The two guys and co-conspirators were the subject of a multi-jurisdictional, multi-year theft investigation.
According to court documents, officials were able to identify the individuals involved thanks to cell phone data and a second arrest made during a traffic check.
Last week, two Lancaster residents, Brian Fleming and Ladarion Anderson, both 33, were taken into custody in Fort Worth on suspicion of being part of an organized crime network.
According to investigators, the men would purchase inexpensive goods from the store and then falsify the invoices to make it appear as though they had purchased pricey Lego sets.
Investigators claim that co-conspirators would then return, take the updated receipt, snatch pricey items from the shelves, and leave. They would present the modified receipt if they were questioned.
Approximately $400,000 worth of Lego products were taken from Target and Walmart locations.
The plan was initially discovered by authorities when they stopped another man in 2022.
Troops from the Texas Highway Patrol discovered stolen goods during the stop that could be linked to the retail establishments. That’s how people learned about Fleming and Anderson.
According to Texas DPS Sgt. Chris Williamson, “It seems like it’s in a little, small box.” “But if you think about it, those Legos are very valuable to not only kids but adults and are very collectible.”
Investigators found that the group had been committing crimes since 2021 and that they had targeted a large number of establishments.
The organization targeted dozens of retailers in Oklahoma, Florida, Pennsylvania, Austin, Houston, and the DFW metroplex.
Fleming and Anderson are accused of committing organized crime and stealing more than $300,000. According to DPS, further arrests will probably be made in this case.
In Fort Worth, both males were taken into custody. Due to unresolved warrants in Smith County, Fleming was subsequently moved there.
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The Texas Department of Public Safety and the 114th District Court provided the information for this article.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the 114th District Court provided the information for this article.
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