A major organized retail theft and fraud operation has been dismantled, according to authorities. The operation involved the trafficking of stolen merchandise and a nationwide gift card scheme that targeted older individuals. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office began investigating thefts in June and uncovered a network operating across the Bay Area and beyond.
On Tuesday, October 21, deputies executed five search warrants at homes, storage units, and a warehouse in San Jose and Campbell, leading to the arrest of six individuals. At a residence on Banana Grove Lane, investigators recovered more than a dozen box-truck loads of Home Depot merchandise, including electrical wire, switches, and light fixtures, with an estimated value exceeding $1 million. Nearly 100 totes of wine were also recovered and returned to Target. Every room in the home was reportedly stacked floor to ceiling with goods.
Authorities identified key suspects as Thanh Vo, 23, of San Jose, and Corey Guting, 37, of Milpitas, who allegedly supplied stolen items to Erik Nguyen, 45, of San Jose. Detectives allege that Nguyen also purchased and resold large quantities of merchandise from business operators Ye Zhang, 37, of Monterey Park (Los Angeles County); De Lu, 25, of San Jose; and Yan Wong, 32, of Campbell.
Investigators claim that these operators used information from high-value gift cards—obtained from hundreds of victims through phone and online scams—to purchase thousands of dollars in goods daily. The losses at Bay Area stores reportedly exceeded $10,000 per day over several months.
"This case is one of the most significant takedowns of organized retail crime we've seen in Santa Clara County," said Sheriff Robert Jonsen in a statement. "It shows what's possible when skilled investigators, strong partnerships, and targeted resources come together to protect our communities."
All six suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on charges including organized retail theft, financial elder abuse, theft by false pretenses, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy.
The Sheriff's Office encourages anyone who believes they may have been victimized to contact investigators at [email protected].
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