Ohio man nets more than $1M via UPC shoplifting scheme

An Ohio man has pleaded guilty for his part in leading a conspiracy that netted more than $1 million in merchandise by the use of fake Universal Product Code (UPC) labels. Tommy Joe Tidwell, one of four men indicted, admitted in a statement that he and his conspirators created a scheme to steal from large retailers and then re-sell items through eBay. 

Tidwell would create the fraudulent UPC labels on his home PC, while the rest of the group would place them on goods in stores in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Texas. These items were then purchased for a fraction of their cost, before being disposed of via the popular online auction site. Tidwell faces a maximum prison sentence of 40 years, with his sentencing scheduled for January. It was not known if the stolen goods were recoverable in the end. Other items known for showing up on eBay include pre-release hardware like the BlackBerry Bold.

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