Four Arrested in Coordinated Walmart Theft Operation Across Lee County

Lee County deputies grabbed four suspects tied to thefts at Walmart locations around the county. The Lee County Sheriff's Office caught wind of crimes at the Pine Island Road store and another in Estero. Both happened between Dec. 22 and Dec. 23.

On Dec. 22, deputies got their first call about trouble at the Pine Island Road Walmart. Dontavius Powell walked up to a cashier with a bogus receipt, claimed a generator and two Kitchen-Aid mixers, then bolted in a U-Haul van.

The next day brought more action. Deputies returned to the same Walmart after getting tips about weird behavior in the parking lot. That U-Haul from the day before? Sitting right there while Powell browsed inside.

Deputies questioned Marcus Hammett, who was behind the wheel, and his passenger, Domonique Golden. Meanwhile, Powell and Erwin Staco strolled out clutching unpaid items. When deputies moved in, both Powell and Staco took off running, according to authorities.

Detectives dug deeper and found Golden and Powell had hit the Estero Walmart earlier that same night, making off with several generators.

Powell now stares down two grand theft charges plus one petit theft count. Staco picked up a petty theft charge and another for resisting without violence.

Golden caught a grand theft charge from the Estero investigation. Hammett? He was already on felony probation for retail theft out of Miami, so now he's looking at probation violation charges too.

Detectives haven't closed the book yet.