Dozens of suspects have been arrested for their alleged roles in a retail theft ring.

Memphis police arrested 23 individuals who were allegedly part of a “mob-style smash-and-grab” burglary ring, local officials announced during a press conference Monday, June 26. An additional 15 suspects were indicted for allegedly organizing the crime ring. 

Several individuals were arrested by the Multi-Agency Gang Unit during the Memphis Police Department’s Operation Broken Bottles; they were said to have allegedly targeted 21 businesses, mostly liquor stores, over the past seven months. The suspects used sledgehammers and stolen vehicles to force their way into storefronts, causing significant damage.

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“We launched Operation Broken Bottles to address the surge in brazen and ruthless burglaries targeting liquor stores, clothing outlets, cell-phone retailers and smoke shops throughout our city,” said MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis. “These crimes cause significant financial losses to local businesses and instill fear throughout our community.”

Davis said Operation Broken Bottles is only a portion of a strategic plan to cut down on crime in Memphis. 

During its investigation, MPD realized the scope of crimes allegedly committed by the group.

Davis said the individuals were part of a well-organized network led by a handful of people who recruited them to carry out these smash-and-grab crimes. 

The police department arrested 23 suspects for burglary of a business, auto theft, theft from a motor vehicle, unlawful possession and prohibited weapons. 

The investigators identified 25 additional people who are allegedly members of a core group that assisted in organizing the burglaries. Fifteen of those people have been indicted. 

Monday morning, four of the 15 indicted individuals were apprehended by the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The four suspects were transported to the Shelby County Jail.

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A fifth individual turned himself in, and seven of the other individuals were already in custody in various facilities for other, unrelated charges. One suspect is out on bond for another charge. Two other suspects are still at large. 

The four individuals taken into custody Monday morning are:

• Stanley Rayner, 19, $200,000 bail
• Montario Fifer, 19, $200,000 bail
• Courtney Owens, 19, $150,000 bail
• Samuel Childress, 31, $25,000 bail

Jarren Crawford, 27, turned himself in Monday afternoon and was issued a $50,000 bail.

Seven of the eight individuals listed as already in custody are:

• Deon Byrd, 25, Shelby County Jail, $225,000 bail
• James Thomas, 41, Shelby County Jail, $500,000 bail
• Kamerin Triggs, 19, Shelby County Jail, $150,000 bail
• Jaylin Triplett, 19, Shelby County Jail, $50,000 bail
• Carl Turner, 25, Shelby County Jail, $25,000 bail
• Lawrence Anthony, 34, in federal custody
• Jaylin Bonds, 24, Shelby County Correctional Center, $40,000 bail

Donya Webb, 21, was issued an indictment, but because he was out on bond for a previous arrest, he was not physically arrested Monday. 

MPD anticipates additional indictments in the future.

“We remain laser-focused on arresting those who commit violent crimes against members of our community,” Davis said. 

The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office launched a Smash and Grab Unit in partnership with MPD in January.

“These kinds of partnerships between our DA’s office and various parts of law enforcement, I think, is essential to what we’re trying to do to bend the curve on crime in Shelby County,” said Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. 

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The Smash and Grab Unit is led by Assistant District attorneys Paul Hagerman and Forrest Edwards.

“The idea was to take all of those cases that were part of a pattern of organized retail theft and channel them through the same prosecutors so they can see if there were patterns, if they were repeat offenders,” Mulroy said. “And they can coordinate closely, hand-in-glove with the members of the Multi-Agency Gang Unit.”

Mulroy said the next step in this case is to ensure the individuals are prosecuted “fully and and vigorously.”

All indicted individuals will be heard in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 7, Judge Lee Coffee’s courtroom.

There are a total of 182 counts among the 15 indicted individuals, Mulroy said. Their counts include conspiracy to commit theft over $250k, a Class B felony that carries eight to 30 years in prison, as well as felony vandalism, firearms theft and auto theft.

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“While not every one of them by themselves is inherently a violent offense, they led to many violent offenses,” Mulroy said. 

He added that burglaries of businesses that serve as anchors in their neighborhoods affect the wider community, because they cause fear and frustration.

Edwards said two of the suspects, Thomas and Byrd, allegedly drove a car at a high speed into another vehicle, killing a 72-year-old man and critically injuring his wife. 

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Thomas and Byrd were allegedly fleeing the scene of a burglary in Collierville before the crash happened, Edwards said. Thomas was charged with vehicular homicide. 

“For those that continue to victimize our community, we have one message for you,” Edwards said. “You have our full attention. We will work tirelessly to ensure that you’re held accountable for your actions, because our community deserves better.”