On September 10, 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the bust of a large-scale organized retail theft operation dubbed “Operation Formula One”. The 15-month joint investigation by the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office targeted a ring responsible for stealing over $1.1 million worth of baby formula in more than 150 separate retail thefts spanning nine judicial circuits.
Key Details of the Bust
- The Ringleaders: Mohammed Alsaidi (59) and Zeina Abdul-Hassan Sou Zabib (49), both of Lake Worth, were identified as the fences heading the enterprise. They operated out of their home and a warehouse in Davie.
- The Charges: Alsaidi and Sou Zabib face felony charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and dealing in stolen property. If convicted on all counts, each faces up to 90 years in prison.
- The Operation: The scheme utilized professional shoplifters (“boosters”) who systematically wiped out shelves at major retailers like Publix, Walmart, Target, and CVS. The boosters sold cans to the ringleaders for around $10 each, and the products were amassed in warehouses to be resold for significant profit.
- Boosters Arrested: Nine boosters were charged alongside the ringleaders, including key operative Kenneth Jones Jr., who had previously been linked to dozens of thefts.
- Evidence Seized: Law enforcement recovered approximately 1,000 stolen cans of baby formula (valued at around $38,000) during a search warrant execution.
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