News

Three face 73 felony charges in Lowe's theft scheme

By Bill Moss, Published: June 6, 2014

Henderson County sheriff's deputies arrested three local men and filed warrants for a fourth suspect in a theft scheme in which the men allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Lowe's then returned the loot for cash or gift cards or sold it pawn shops.

Detectives with the sheriff's office conducted a three-month investigation along with the Lowes Loss Prevention investigators before arresting the three men on a total of 73 felony charges. One suspect is still at large. More charges against the suspects are expected.

The main charges were obtaining property by false pretenses. Merchandise was stolen or charged on unauthorized credit cards from the store. After the thefts or unauthorized purchases, the suspects would return the merchandise for a refund and obtain a Lowes gift or merchandise card. Often the suspects would walk out of the store with the merchandise or the Lowes gift cards and go directly local pawn shops. There the suspects would exchange the cards or merchandise for cash. Arrested were:

Donald Lee Connor, 29, of Glover Street, Hendersonville is charged with eight counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Conner was arrested on March 28 and jailed under a $105,150 bond. Conner remains in custody at the Henderson County Detention Facility.

David Jeremy Garren, 24, of Pace Street in Saluda, was charged with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Garren was arrested on May 6 and jailed under a $2,500 bond. He made bond on May 7.

Rickey Green Jr., 37, of Prince Street in Hendersonville, is charged with 54 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, two counts of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses; three counts of felony financial card fraud. Green was arrested in Greenville County, S.C., on April 6 on unrelated charges and is fighting extradition back to North Carolina.

The sheriff's office issued arrest warrants for Albert Green, 50, of Hendersonville, has outstanding warrants in regard to this investigation. He is wanted on two counts of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses and has not been arrested. Anyone with information on Albert Green was asked to contact the Henderson County Sheriff's Office at 828-697-4911.