'Paper Team' crew: 4 charged, $70K worth of merchandise stolen from stores 20+ times in 2 months
WAUWATOSA -- Wauwatosa police have released surveillance video showing retail theft suspects running from the Saks Fifth Avenue store at the Mayfair Collection with their arms loaded with merchandise. This, as charges were filed Monday, Jan. 22 against four suspects. Three of the four remain at large, according to Glendale police. This crew is accused of hitting up stores (many of them at Bayshore Town Center and the Mayfair Collection in Glendale and Wauwatosa) on 20+ occasions.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in this investigation.
The charges break down as follows:
Charles Porter, 24:
Tyron Richardson, 17:
Kendall Strickland, 24
Devonte Thomas, 17
Charles Porter, Tyron Richardson, Kendall Strickland, Devonte Thomas
Paper team crew
Richardson is the only one of these four suspects who is currently in custody, according to Glendale police. He was arrested on Jan. 10 following a chase and crash into a home. There were three other juveniles/young adults in the vehicle. The complaint says Richardson drove 65 miles-per-hour on city streets, disregarding 22 stop signs and four red lights before crashing on W. Olive -- where the vehicle struck a home. Richardson was arrested along with the other occupants. The vehicle had been stolen from a Hertz rental store earlier that day. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun with laser site loaded with 11 rounds in the attached magazine which matched a firearm pictured on Richardson's Facebook page. He remains in custody on bail in that case.
The criminal complaint notes that Thomas was arrested on Jan. 10 after a pursuit of a stolen vehicle with Ohio plates that began near 26th and North. After a crash, Thomas fled on foot and was captured in a nearby yard. The complaint says he had a bag containing two grams of marijuana in his pocket. The complaint says when he was taken into custody another vehicle arrived on scene and shots were fired. The vehicle that crashed in this case was the stolen Hertz rental. The complaint notes Thomas posted bail in the case in which he's charged with fleeing/eluding and is at large.
Prosecutors say they're members of the so-called "Paper Team" crew. They've been identified as suspects in multiple "grab and run" style retail thefts, robberies, operation of stolen vehicles during other crimes, fleeing and eluding police, drug dealing and armed robberies since fall of 2017.
They're known to posses firearms, and several members are felons. Of those charged, Thomas is the only one who is not a felon, prosecutors said. Porter was previously convicted of felon in possession of a firearm. Strickland was previously convicted of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. Richardson was previously adjudicated delinquent for battery by a prisoner and operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent.
According to the 33-page criminal complaint, they've published videos and photos on social media proclaiming their membership in this crew and their involvement in crimes across the Milwaukee area.
They also wear or display items taking during crimes, and sell stolen items for profit benefiting the group. They're also accused of illegally brandishing handguns and other firearms and flaunting large amounts of cash -- and they utilize stolen vehicles to elude law enforcement.
The criminal complaint offers a lengthy list of further charges these four defendants could face in the future, in addition to the charges they're already facing.
At the Sak's Off Fifth Avenue at the Mayfair Collection on Dec. 3, prosecutors say they started using their belts to fight off store employees who were trying to stop them in the parking lot -- where a fight broke out (see below surveillance video).
The four individuals charged above are accused in connection with these incidents:
Prosecutors say the estimated total loss to these stores, and the total amount of restitution owed by these defendants is $70,253.