Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery joined members of the Scottsdale police department on Thursday to announce the bust of a recent retail crime ring. Seventeen defendants are now facing felony counts for trafficking stolen baby formula.
The investigation, known as “operation powder burn,” began in September of 2013. It involved a group of people who stole baby formula from grocery retailers in the Valley and then sold it to two middle men.
Investigators said they then shipped the formula to independent stores on the east coast who sold the product at full price.
Michelle Ahlmer with the Arizona Retailers Association said the concern goes beyond just the stores’ monetary loss.
"But we certainly don’t want product that hasn’t been stored and handled properly, that is a consumable item for children, to be not under the correct storage," Ahlmer said. "And there’s no guarantee on that when things are handled this way."
Officials said the crime ring targeted more than 90 retailers resulting in the loss of about $64,000.