Crime & Safety
6 Charged In $250K ‘Internal Theft Scheme’ At Store In Meriden: Police
Six people have been arrested in connection with a "large-scale internal theft scheme" at a retail store in Meriden, according to police.
MERIDEN, CT — Six people have been arrested in connection with a “large-scale internal theft scheme” at Lowe’s in Meriden, according to police.
Police launched a long-term investigation in July 2024 and said losses from the scheme are believed to have “exceeded $250,000” over a one-year period.
“The case was investigated by Meriden Police Detective Femia, who is assigned to the United States Secret Service’s Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force,” police wrote in a news release. “Det. Femia collaborated with the loss prevention team from the business. The suspects were involved in several different schemes to defraud the retail store of money and products.”
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As a result of this “lengthy and diligent investigation,” police said the following six people were arrested:
Jose Perez was arrested Aug. 18 on charges of first-degree larceny and receiving a commercial bribe. He was held in lieu of a $200,000 bond.
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Izay Ortiz was arrested Sept. 18 on a charge of second-degree larceny. He was held in lieu of a $150,000 bond.
Hector Mejia was arrested Aug. 4 on charges of criminal attempt at third-degree larceny and commercial bribery. He was held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
Amardean Elsayed was arrested July 3 on charges of commercial bribery and fifth-degree larceny. He was held in lieu of a $25,000 bond.
Luis Amaurys Rodriguez Pena was arrested Sept. 12 on a charge of commercial bribery. He was held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
Ruel Gordon was arrested Aug. 6 on a charge of commercial bribery. He was held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
At least one more arrest is expected in the case, according to police.
Police said the theft operation was identified by loss prevention employees at Lowe's Home Improvement.
The thefts were mostly appliances at the Meriden Lowe's Outlet Store, according to police.
Police also said there were a variety of methods used that involved two Lowe's employees who were arrested, Perez and Ortiz.
Perez and Ortiz were accused of working with the other suspects to defraud Lowe’s, according to police.
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