Florida man used taco seasoning packets to steal $40,000 value of products from Target, police say | EUROtoday

A Florida man is going through retail theft fees after native authorities say he used taco seasoning packets as a ploy to steal 1000’s of {dollars}’ value of buying and selling playing cards from Target.

Keith Wallis, 39, of Palm Beach, was arrested final week after allegedly participating in an organized retail fraud scheme at Target places from Miami to Orlando between July 2025 and February 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated in a press launch.

Investigators consider Wallis dedicated 75 thefts. During every, he would seize a number of giant packing containers of buying and selling playing cards and an equal variety of 99-cent taco seasoning packets.

Wallis would convey his objects to the self-checkout line, however solely pay for the seasoning packets.

Authorities stated that Wallis would resell the stolen buying and selling playing cards on eBay, producing almost $40,000 in income from the stolen items.

His alleged thefts resulted in a lack of over $10,000 for Target, in accordance with the lawyer basic’s workplace.

Wallis was charged with two counts of felony organized retail theft, three counts of felony dealing in stolen property and one depend of felony cash laundering.

Authorities say their investigation is ongoing, however that they consider Wallis dedicated further thefts at Walmart and Publix places.

If Wallis is discovered responsible on all fees, he faces as much as 90 years within the Florida Department of Corrections, in accordance with the press launch.

“This arrest sends a clear message that organized retail theft, no matter how coordinated or far-reaching, will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated in a press release. “Those who profit from stealing in our communities will be held accountable.”

Uthmeier, the lawyer basic, famous within the launch that Florida has the “number one economy” within the nation due to its “commitment to law and order.”

“Organized retail theft drives up prices for consumers, and that is not the result we are going to tolerate. These schemes will be met with the maximum punishment allowed under the law.”