By Staff
ST. JOSEPH – On June 18, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Violent Crimes Task Force, along with several state and local law enforcement agencies, executed simultaneous search warrants on four convenience stores and three residences in Berrien County.
Execution of these search warrants was the result of a cooperative investigation spanning 10 months that involved the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Michigan State Police Bridge Card Enforcement Team, Michigan Liquor Control Commission, Meijer Corp. Major Investigations Unit, Michigan State Police, Benton Harbor Police Department, Benton Township Police Department, St. Joseph Police Department, St. Joseph Township Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The investigation, which began after individuals who were caught stealing merchandise from local retail stores, revealed that they were reselling it to several local convenience stores for resale.
The investigation revealed that owners and/or agents of the four stores investigated were, in fact, purchasing items they had reason to believe were stolen property.
The property consisted mostly of baby formula and liquor.
These items were purchased by the store owners and/or their agents for approximately half their retail value, then allegedly resold to customers of the convenience stores.
The retail value of the property purchased by each of the individual owners and/or their agents over the 10-month investigation exceeded $1,000.
Search warrants were executed in an effort to seize financial records, purchasing records, unsold baby formula and liquor, and any suspected proceeds from these transactions, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Berrien County Prosecutor's Office.
The statement said several of these items were seized at the various locations.
Stores involved in the investigation and targeted by the search warrants were: H&B Beer/Wine, 284 Broadway, Benton Harbor; North Fair Party Store, 415 N. Fair, Benton Harbor; Eagle's Party Store, 2548 Territorial, Benton Harbor; and the May Street Market, 131 E. May St., Benton Harbor.