Over the course of the past several months the listed suspects were involved in an organized retail theft ring. The suspects are responsible for the theft of over a $100,000 worth of products from the above listed victims. The crimes are being investigated by Scottsdale PD, Phoenix PD and Pima Co. SO.
On 6/13/12 at approximately 1130 hours, Scottsdale detectives conducted surveillance of the Cadillac as it was observed entering Scottsdale into the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. The Cadillac parked just outside the entrance of Dillards department store and two black males entered. Within less than thirty seconds, they quickly fled the store carrying twenty nine Michael Kors purses totaling $8,332.00. They fled the area in a Cadillac sedan and immediately drove to an apartment complex in Glendale at 6112 N. 67th Avenue unit 201. Detectives observed the two suspects, taking the purses out of the vehicle and into apartment 201.
At approximately 1:30 pm, Lamont Hennix Jr. exited apartment 201 and drove away in the Cadillac. Phoenix PD conducted a traffic stop and arrested him without incident. The Cadillac was impounded and a search warrant was later served resulting in no additional evidence. The other suspects were arrested at the apartment and booked into Scottsdale City Jail on felony theft and burglary charges. The case in ongoing.
FORM IV
Scottsdale PD detectives were made aware of a group of black male and female adults participating in organized retail thefts and aggravated robberies at high end retail stores between Tucson and Phoenix. Suspects were targeting expensive purses, clothing, perfumes, and cosmetics, all of which could be sold on the street for a large profit.
On 4/24/12, six Jimmy Choo handbags totaling $9,535.00 were stolen by a black male and female suspect from Jimmy Choo at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, located at 7014 E. Camelback Road in Scottsdale. Video surveillance captured the incident clearly showing the two suspects flee the store and get into an awaiting vehicle. The two suspects were later identified as Tanya Nave and Quinzale Nero. DR 12-09514.
On 6/2/12, multiple cosmetics and fragrances totaling $1,792.00 were stolen by a black male and female suspect from Ulta Salon at Scottsdale Promenade, located at 16231 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Video surveillance captured the incident and employees were able to observe the suspects flee in a tan Cadillac sedan with Arizona plate ATL2059, registered to Dejoe Derello. The two suspects were later identified as Renesia McCuin and Virgil Nave. Virgil was found to be on parole for felony theft. DR 12-12752.
On 6/9/12, twenty five high end True Religion pairs of jeans totaling $3,000.00 were stolen by four black males from Nordstrom Rack at Scottsdale Promenade, located at 16245 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Video surveillance captured the incident, which also showed one of the black males later identified as Lamont Hennix Jr. push a security guard into a sunglass case causing minor injury as the group attempted to flee. Another employee was able to observe the group flee the area in the same Cadillac with Arizona plate ATL2059. DR 12-13243.
In conjunction with detectives from Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Scottsdale and Phoenix detectives were able to identify the Cadillac and Lamont Hennix Jr. and Virgil Nave as being involved in an aggravated robbery in Tucson on 5/21/12. Approximately $40,000.00 worth of Louis Vuitton purses were stolen. Arrest warrants were issued for both Hennix and Nave as a result.
On 6/13/12 at approximately 1130 hours, Scottsdale detectives conducted surveillance of the Cadillac as it was observed entering Scottsdale into the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. The Cadillac parked just outside the entrance of Dillards department store and two black males entered. Within less than thirty seconds, they quickly fled the store carrying twenty nine Michael Kors purses totaling $8,332.00. DR 12-13497. They fled the area in the Cadillac and immediately drove to an apartment complex in Glendale at 6112 N. 67th Avenue unit 201. Phoenix detectives joined in surveillance and observed the two suspects, later identified as Quinzale Nero and Virgil Nave, taking the purses out of the vehicle and into apartment 201.
At approximately 1335 hours, Lamont Hennix Jr. exited apartment 201 and drove away in the Cadillac. Phoenix PD conducted a traffic stop and arrested him without incident. The Cadillac was impounded and a search warrant was later served resulting in no additional evidence.
At approximately 1420 hours, a hispanic male later identified as Alberto Cortina arrived at the apartment driving a white Mitsubishi Galant. Detectives observed Virgil Nave and Quinzale Nero loading large trash bags into the backseat of Cortina’s vehicle from apartment 201. It was believed the trash bags contained the stolen purses. A traffic stop was conducted after Cortina drove away. Cortina admitted he had just purchased the stolen Michael Kors purses and ten pairs of True Religion jeans for $1,800.00 but only paid Nave and Nero $200 and planned on returning with the remainder $1,600.00 later in the day. Cortina admitted to having purchased stolen products including clothing, purses, and fragrances from them on multiple occasions over months and sending them to his family in Cuba. Cortina was subsequently arrested for trafficking in stolen property.
At approximately 1520 hours, Quinzale was observed leaving apartment 201 and walking to the nearby grocery store at 6700 W. Bethany Home Road where he was taken into custody without incident.
At approximately 1609 hours, detectives served a search warrant at apartment 201 previously obtained by Pima County Sheriff’s detectives. Virgil Nave and sister Tanya Nave were arrested without incident from within. Nine pairs of stolen True Religion jeans, a Nordstrom Rack black bag seen on video surveillance from the previously mentioned report, and an off white rock substance believed to be crack cocaine was seized as evidence. DR 12-13527.
At approximately 1800 hours, detectives served a search warrant at 7354 W. Elwood in Phoenix also previously obtained by Pima County Sheriff’s detectives. Renesia McCuin was found to be inside and arrested without incident. Seized items included one stolen Louis Vuitton purse from the previously mentioned case in Tucson, eight boxes of perfumes from the previously mentioned case at Ulta Salon, and five Michael Kors purses believed to be stolen but not confirmed. DR 12-13543.
During a post Miranda Rights interview with Renesia McCuin, she admitted her involvement in the Ulta salon theft and was with Virgil Nave. She claimed Virgil and Lamont Hennix Jr. were the masterminds behind many of the high end retail thefts in the valley and Tucson. She stated they organized the thefts and sold them to many buyers. Tanya Nave admitted her involvement in the Tucson case and was accompanied by Virgil Nave and Lamont Hennix Jr.. Tanya also admitted her involvement in the previously mentioned Jimmy Choo case in Scottsdale and named Quinzale Nero and Virgil Nave as her accomplices.
Under Miranda, Cortina relayed he had purchased high end purses, jeans and cologne from Nave and his associates since November of 2011 at least 8 times. On 06/13/2012, he purchased 29 Michael Kors purses for $1800.00. On 06/10/2012, Cortina admitted purchasing 12 pairs of high end jeans for $800.00. He has primarily purchase Michael Kors purses and colognes in the past.
Quinzale Nero, Lamont Hennix Jr., and Virgil Nave either denied involvement in any criminal activity or refused to speak with detectives.
