Huge theft bust at Caesar Creek Flea Market

Numerous people were served with grand jury indictments Saturday morning at Caesar Creek Flea Market in Wilmington for alleged involvement in a retail store theft and drug trafficking ring connected to arrests made Friday in Jeffersonville.

Around 9 a.m., deputies from the Fayette and Clinton County Sheriff’s Offices arrived at Caesar Creek Flea Market. The indictments were recently handed down by a Clinton County grand jury and the names will be released later, according to Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth.

“This is an investigation into the systematic theft of items from retail stores such as Kroger and CVS Pharmacy throughout the area,” said Stanforth. “People from Fayette County were involved. The stolen items were being sold from Caesar Creek at 100 percent profit. In all, this is a multi-million dollar loss to retail merchants across central Ohio. We believe this has a direct connection to the financing of of drug trafficking operations.”

Stanforth also said indictments served Friday in Jeffersonville are believed to have a direct connection to the Caesar Creek theft ring. Search warrants and indictments from a Fayette County grand jury were served at a Woodsview Drive apartment and West High Street residence in Jeffersonville.

A large amount of crack cocaine and heroin was recovered from the homes, as well as suspected stolen property. Five people were served with indictments in Jeffersonville for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

“This investigation has been going on for months,” said Stanforth. “The suspected stolen items that were being sold at the flea market include clothing, groceries, DVDs, electronics, household items.

According to Stanforth. “the Caesar Creek personnel have been very cooperative throughout,” he said. “This has nothing to do with many of the individual vendors at Caesar Creek.”

Loss prevention departments from Kroger and CVS are also at Caesar Creek, located along I-71 and State Route 73, Saturday in an attempt to identify the merchandise.

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