Grand jury indicts 9 in suspected baby-food theft ring

JEFFERSON COUNTY – A grand jury handed down racketeering indictments against nine people who allegedly operated an infant-formula theft ring, the District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

The five men and four women named in the 78-count indictments are accused of stealing more than $20,000 worth of baby formula from retailers in the metro area and Colorado Springs, then selling by word-of-mouth marketing and through the Internet, prosecutors said.

The suspects under indictment are Tam Huynh, 45; Thuy “Tien” Nguyen, 38; Do Hieu, 37; Erica Martinez, 26; Joseph Nieto, 21; Matthew Nieto, 27; Vinh Van Vu, 28; Hahn Thi Tran, 39; and Kieu Tri Huynh, 47.

The indictment charges that between January 3008 and March 2009, the suspects filled shopping carts with baby formula at retail stores, then leave without paying for it and the stolen items then would be handed over to other members of the group, who would sell it.  

“Some members of the criminal enterprise are alleged to have recruited people to steal the products, some stole the items, and others acted as lookouts,” according a press release issued by the DA’s office. “Tam Huynh and Thuy Nguyen are suspected of having acted as  ’fences’, finding buyers and distributing the products.”

Tam and Tien also were charged with possessing a forged instrument after investigators used a search warrant to enter the suspects’ house and found suspected forged or counterfeited U.S. and Vietnamese currency, uncut bills, a paper cutter, scanner and color printer.

The DA’s office worked closely with Lakewood Police Department investigators and officers from Aurora for months before taking the matter to the Grand Jury, according to a spokesperson for District Attorney Scott Storey. The first indictment was returned in June and the latest were returned late last week.

“We are seeing more of this type of organized crime,” Storey said. “The Lakewood and Aurora police departments did a terrific job with this investigation. They worked closely with prosecutors and DA investigators throughout the entire grand jury process.”

The proceeds from the sale of the stolen goods allegedly were split among the nine suspects to pay bills, gamble and for illegal drugs, prosecutors said.

The primary targets of the suspected crime ring were Target and Wal-Mart stores and Safeway, Albertson’s and King Soopers grocery stores, the DA’s office said.

Seven of the suspects have been arrested. Arrest warrants have been issued for the other two.