Theft of $14K in baby formula leads to jail sentence

WARREN COUNTY — A woman involved in an organized retail theft ring involving stolen baby formula was convicted and sentenced this week.

Thuy Thu Do, 35, of Batavia in Clermont County, pleaded guilty to six counts of receiving stolen property and one count possession of criminal tools.

Do was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $14,025 in restitution. The woman also forfeited her vehicle to pay part of the money owed.

The conviction was reached through a public-private partnership between police and The Kroger Company.

“Organized retail crime costs retailers billions of dollars each year, particularly with high-dollar items such as baby formula, over-the-counter medications, and health and beauty products,” said Warren County Prosecutor David P. Fornshell in a release. “Typically, these items then find their way into black markets overseas, or locally onto tables in flea markets.”

From Aug. 24, 2015 through Oct. 20, 2015, the Lebanon and Monroe police departments conducted an investigation into Do after learning she was purchasing large amounts of stolen baby formula and shipping the product to Vietnam.

Fornshell said in a release that Do’s contacts in Vietnam would then sell the products and send her money back.

In six different instances, Do set up the purchase of stolen baby formula with undercover officers, according to the media release.