Retail Theft Ring, Renton Man Sentenced To Five Years In Prison

A 42-year-old Renton, Wash., man was sentenced Friday, Feb. 17 in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and $149,180.90 in restitution for Wire Fraud and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Altor Hollingsworth was the leader of a retail theft and fraud ring that targeted Lowe’s, Home Depot and Wal-Mart stores across the West. The schemers combined shoplifting with forged documents to steal significant sums from the retailers. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik told Hollingsworth you were “the fulcrum of the entire operation.”

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Hollingsworth lead a group of as many as 22 people, who systematically defrauded big box retailers. For example, members of the ring would steal items, such as expensive faucets, from Lowe’s stores by placing them in large boxes for sinks or toilets. The conspirators would leave the store paying only the lower price for the sink or toilet. In the ensuing weeks, members of the conspiracy would return the stolen items to different Lowe’s stores throughout Arizona, Oregon, California, Oklahoma and Washington, in exchange for gift cards. Members of the conspiracy then sold the gift cards for cash. The ring caused more than $100,000 in losses to Lowes. In order to return Lowe’s items without a receipt, the conspirators used altered drivers licenses – changing one letter in the name and license number – so that the stores fraud detection systems would not be triggered with the multiple returns. However Lowe’s security was able to detect the activities of the ring and worked with the U.S. Secret Service and King County Sheriff’s Office detectives to investigate their activities. Similar schemes were used to steal from Home Depot and WalMart.

Seven people were indicted in May 2011, in connection with the ring. ALTOR Hollingsworth was the ring leader and was involved in the vast majority of fraudulent returns. Over a period of six years, he benefited the most from the fraud scheme. Additionally, at the time of his arrest on May 23, 2011, law enforcement found a firearm in his home. Hollingsworth was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions for felony domestic violence and violating a no contact order. Hollingsworth has a lengthy
history of violence against women including eleven convictions relating to assault or domestic violence between1992 and 1998. In all, he has 40 criminal convictions in the last 24 years.

In asking for a significant sentence, prosecutors highlighted Hollingsworth’s leadership role – involving others in his crime. “Over the course of Defendant’s life, he has demonstrated a greed and selfishness that have dictated his actions, regardless of the consequences those actions held for others. Defendant recruited his son, his girlfriends, and his other family members into his fraud without any regard for their well-being,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

Hollingsworth was ordered to pay $138,690 in restitution to Lowe’s, $19,226 in restitution to WalMart, and $15,596 in restitution to Home Depot.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aravind Swaminathan and Lawrence Lincoln.

*Editor's Note: Information provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.