Beginning in mid-July 2012 through mid-April 2013, Bobby Joe White (19), Manuel Sanchez Tafoya (19), Joseph Adam Keller (18), Jorge Luis Sotelo, Jr. (19) and two unidentified females have been entering Walmart stores valley wide and stealing large amounts of electronics. Mr. White was taken into custody on April 14, 2013 and charged with 80 counts of Organized Retail Theft, 40 counts of Theft, and 40 counts of Criminal Damage. Mr. White remains in custody at the Maricopa County Jail.
On April 23, 2013 Mr. Tafoya and Mr. Keller were arrested by property crimes detectives from the Peoria Police Department and Chandler Police Department. Mr. Tafoya was charged with four counts of Organized Retail Theft, two counts of Trafficking in Stolen Property, two counts of Fraudulent Schemes, and two counts of Theft. Mr. Keller was charged with 24 counts of Organized Retail Theft, 12 counts of Trafficking in Stolen Property, 12 counts of Fraudulent Schemes, and 12 counts of Theft. Both Mr. Tafoya and Mr. Keller were booked into the Maricopa County Jail.
Investigators are still seeking the fourth male suspect: Jorge Luis Sotelo, Jr. He is described as a Hispanic male, approximately six feet tall and weighing around 235 pounds. If you have any information relating to the whereabouts of Mr. Sotelo, please contact the Chandler Police Department at (480) 782-4130 or Silent Witness at (480) WITNESS (948-6377). Silent Witness is offering a reward of up to $1,000.00 for information that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of Mr. Sotelo. When calling, please reference Chandler Police report number 13-19145.
For more information, please contact Detective Seth Tyler at (480) 782-4105.
