SANTA CLARA, Calif. (FOX26) — The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office High Impact Team has dismantled a significant organized retail theft and fraud enterprise responsible for trafficking millions of dollars in stolen goods and exploiting elderly victims nationwide.

The investigation, which began in June 2025, uncovered a sophisticated criminal network operating across the Bay Area and beyond.

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Key suspects include Thanh Vo, 23, of San Jose, and Corey Guting, 37, of Milpitas, who supplied stolen items to Erik Nguyen, 45, of San Jose.

The investigation found that Nguyen purchased and resold large quantities of goods from business operators Ye Zhang, 37, of Monterey Park; De Lu, 25, of San Jose; and Yan Wong, 32, of Campbell.

These individuals were involved in a widespread gift card scam, fraudulently acquiring merchandise and operating online marketplaces to ship products nationwide.

Sheriff Robert Jonsen described the case as “one of the most significant takedowns of organized retail crime we’ve seen in Santa Clara County.”

On Tuesday, the High Impact Team executed five coordinated search warrants at locations in San Jose and Campbell, recovering more than a dozen box truckloads of stolen merchandise from The Home Depot, valued at over $1 million.

They also recovered nearly 100 totes filled with bottles of wine that were returned to Target.

The investigation also found a nationwide fraud scheme targeting hundreds of victims, many elderly, through online and phone scams.

Victims were coerced into purchasing high-value gift cards and providing the information to scammers.

These cards were used by Zhang, Lu, Wong, and their associates to purchase thousands of dollars in merchandise daily.

Investigators estimate over $10,000 in fraudulent gift card purchases occurred each day at Bay Area retail locations for several months.

Scott Glenn, Vice President of Asset Protection at The Home Depot, emphasized the importance of combating gift card fraud, stating, “Gift card fraud is a major driver of organized retail crime, and our work to stop it goes far beyond protecting our bottom line.”

All six suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on charges including organized retail theft, financial elder abuse, theft by false pretenses, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy.

The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information or who believes they may have been a victim to contact investigators at ORT@shf.sccgov.org.

Much of the stolen merchandise was found to be from Home Depot, Target, Lowe’s, and Sprouts. It will be inventoried and returned.

This operation, the largest recovery of stolen goods since the task force’s formation in 2024, was made possible through a State of California grant aimed at combating organized retail theft.

The High Impact Team includes members of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and collaborates with allied agencies and retail partners.