RINGLEADER OF THEFT RING SENTENCED

04/04/2023

PRESS RELEASE

LOGANSPORT – Prosecutor Noah Schafer announced that Mark Thomas, 47, of Logansport, was sentenced to four years in the Indiana Department of Correction at a sentencing hearing on April 4, 2023 following his plea to Corrupt Business Influence, a Level 5 Felony. At a guilty plea hearing held on February 22, 2023, Thomas admitted to being the leader of a group stealing from retail stores through north central Indiana.  Three other individuals have been charged in connection with the string of organized retail thefts.  The group would shoplift various items, sometimes pawning them, sometimes selling to other parties, and sometimes returning them to other stores for gift cards or store credit. Thomas admitted that he directed the groups activities, generally waiting in the car while other conspirators stole and returned stolen merchandise at his direction.

Said Schafer of the case and the sentence: “Theft rings can do business elsewhere if they wish to operate with impunity.  In Cass County, there will be consequences for organized crime.”