Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) — Two pawn shops in Springfield are named as part of an alleged organized retail crime ring, leading to charges against a Bloomington family and employees.

On Thursday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced charges against Monster Pawn owners Edwin Pierce, 65, and Kathleen Pierce, 58, as well as their son, Everson Pierce, 28. Four other employees also face charges in the case.

The Springfield shops, located on East North Grand Avenue and South MacArthur Boulevard, were allegedly used to purchase stolen goods and sell them online at discounted prices. Three other locations in Bloomington and Normal were included in the investigation.

Raoul alleged the Pierces and their employees knowingly bought items like televisions, tools, and video game equipment still in original packaging, often stolen from retailers. According to Raoul’s office, the merchandise was represented as being the proceeds of retail theft, which the defendants would purchase well below market value. The Pierce family and their employees then allegedly sold those items online below market value.

“Organized retail crime takes many forms and is not limited to any one type of business or region of Illinois. Illinois residents should be able to trust businesses in their communities to operate in accordance with the law and that the goods and services customers purchase from businesses were procured legally,” Raoul said.

The charges follow a multijurisdictional investigation involving Raoul’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, state revenue investigators, and police from Springfield, Bloomington, and Chatham.

Charges Filed by Attorney General Raoul

Kathleen Pierce and Edwin Pierce

  • Three misdemeanor counts of theft under $500.
  • One count of being the organizer of a continuing financial crimes enterprise (Class X felony, up to 30 years in prison).
  • One count of continuing financial crimes enterprise (Class 1 felony, up to 15 years in prison).
  • One count of being the manager of organized retail crime (Class 2 felony, up to seven years in prison).
  • Eight counts of theft between $500 and $10,000.
  • One count of solicitation of theft (Class 3 felony, up to five years in prison).
  • Two counts of money laundering (Class 3 felony, up to five years in prison each).

Everson Pierce

  • Seven misdemeanor counts of theft under $500.
  • One count of being the organizer of a continuing financial crimes enterprise (Class X felony, up to 30 years in prison).
  • One count of being the manager of organized retail crime (Class 2 felony, up to seven years in prison).
  • Four counts of theft between $500 and $10,000.
  • Two counts of money laundering (Class 3 felony, up to five years in prison each).

Thomas O’Donnell, 57, of Normal

  • Two counts of theft between $500 and $10,000 (Class 3 felonies, up to five years in prison each).
  • Two counts of money laundering (Class 3 felonies, up to five years in prison each).
  • Eight misdemeanor counts of theft under $500.

Steven Mileham, 71, of Springfield

  • One count of solicitation of theft (Class 3 felony, up to five years in prison).
  • One count of theft between $500 and $10,000 (Class 3 felony, up to five years in prison).
  • One count of being the manager of organized retail crime (Class 2 felony, up to seven years in prison).

Jessica Cloyd, 34, of Mechanicsburg

  • One count of theft between $500 and $10,000 (Class 3 felony, up to five years in prison).
  • Three misdemeanor counts of theft under $500.

Carter Walker, 25, of Chatham

  • One count of theft between $500 and $10,000 (Class 3 felony, up to five years in prison).
  • One misdemeanor count of theft under $500.