Two Women Sentenced in $141K Multi-State Retail Theft Scheme Tied to Georgia — With South Georgia Arrest
By Carol A. Gasser Moore
GEORGIA / SOUTH GEORGIA – Two women have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for orchestrating a highly coordinated, multi-state retail theft scheme that stole nearly $141,000 in merchandise from Walmart and Target stores—including numerous locations across Georgia. The suspects were arrested in Coweta County, but their activities reached far beyond Metro Atlanta, extending into South Georgia, where law enforcement played a critical role in ending the scheme.
A Brazen Retail Scam Spanning 21 States
Ebony Fallon Washington, 43, and Melissa Holland, 46—both from New York—pleaded guilty to violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, after executing 187 thefts in a scheme that stretched across 21 states from June 2022 through August 2024.
Melissa Holland and Ebony Fallon Washington
The operation was simple but effective: the women used cash to purchase Apple AirPods, removed the authentic devices from the packaging, and replaced them with cheap counterfeits. The resealed boxes were then returned for cash refunds, and the stolen genuine AirPods were resold at a profit—fueling the next cycle of theft.
“This was a well-rehearsed and deliberate operation,” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy of the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office. “These women ran a criminal enterprise with precision.”
Although the pair struck stores across the country, Georgia was heavily affected, with dozens of Walmart and Target stores targeted. According to prosecutors, the state’s RICO statute allowed for prosecution of the wider conspiracy, even though only two Cherokee County stores were directly impacted.
South Georgia Link: Arrests and Investigative Leads
Washington and Holland’s downfall began with cooperation between Walmart and Target loss prevention units, who tracked suspicious return activity and alerted local law enforcement. Their arrests took place in Coweta County, but records show they traveled across the state—including stays near retail hubs in South Georgia.
Receipts found in their vehicle placed them at hotels close to stores later confirmed to have been targeted. Investigators recovered specialized tools used to open packaging, multiple phones containing evidence of fraudulent activity, and surveillance footage from several Georgia stores—including in Albany, Tifton, and Valdosta—where returns and transactions matched their pattern.
“Retail crime doesn’t stop at county lines,” said a South Georgia-based law enforcement source. “We see it affecting our communities just as much as urban areas, and these arrests show what statewide collaboration can accomplish.”
RICO Charges, Restitution, and Strict Sentencing
The two women were formally sentenced on May 7, 2025, to 20 years each, with 10 years to be served in prison and the remainder under supervised probation. They were ordered to pay $134,951.86 in restitution and banned from entering any Walmart or Target locations nationwide.
In addition, they were barred from Cherokee County and ordered to complete 320 hours of community service. The court also ordered that they have no contact with one another during or after incarceration.
Organized Retail Crime in Georgia: A Growing Concern
This case underscores Georgia’s escalating focus on organized retail crime—a trend mirrored in other South Georgia prosecutions.
In Valdosta, for example, Isaac Camon was prosecuted in a similar retail fraud case involving fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. While not linked directly to Washington and Holland’s scam, Camon’s case reflects a growing number of criminal enterprises exploiting large retail and government systems for financial gain in the region.
According to Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia is seeing “an increase in organized, large-scale theft and fraud operations,” which has led to enhanced efforts by his Gang Prosecution Unit and Organized Retail Crime Unit across the state—including Albany, Columbus, and Savannah.
“A Warning to Would-Be Offenders”
“This case sends a clear message to anyone considering exploiting our retail stores or defrauding our communities,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “You will be caught. You will be prosecuted. And you will be held accountable.”
With increasing cooperation between corporate retailers and law enforcement—including in South Georgia—state officials say Georgia is better positioned than ever to crack down on organized fraud and restore confidence in local commerce.
