Man who stole merchandise for Arizona retail theft ring gets 6.5-year prison sentence

A man who was part of an Arizona retail theft ring involving roughly $10 million in stolen goods was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison, authorities announced Tuesday.

Jared Duke was part of an operation that targeted businesses from 2018 to 2024, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

A joint investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office identified Duke as a “booster” — someone who steals merchandise and hands it off to others in a larger criminal network.

How much did booster make in retail theft ring targeting Arizona businesses?

Boosters are the engine of these operations, supplying the goods that fuel the entire scheme. They typically sell what they steal to “fencers,” who then resell the stolen items.

Prosecutors said Duke received $22,597.25 in payments from a fencing location, and investigators tied nearly $5,000 in known thefts directly to him.

Duke pleaded guilty on March 31 and was sentenced on April 30. He was also ordered to pay $4,849.60 in restitution.

How many others are accused of being part of the retail theft ring?

Duke was among 19 suspects charged in a 92-count indictment handed down in June 2025.

He was named on nine of the counts but pleaded guilty March 31 to five charges: two counts of organized retail theft, two counts of trafficking in stolen property and one count of illegally conducting an enterprise.

In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to repay $4,849.60 in restitution during an April 30 hearing.

Cases are pending for his codefendants.

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