Tulsa Retail Theft Ringleader Sentenced to 5+ Years in Prison

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By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyCreations - News & Media (ISC)

Published May 10th, 2024

TULSA, Okla. – In a significant blow to organized retail crime, Linda Ann Been, 51, the leader of a major theft ring, was sentenced today to 64 months in federal prison for her extensive criminal activities, including conspiracy and wire fraud, among other charges. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell who also imposed a three-year term of supervised release and ordered Been to pay $43,197.76 in restitution.

Been's sentencing concludes a saga that began with her indictment in January 2022 alongside 23 co-defendants, culminating in her guilty plea in July 2022. The operation, dubbed "Booster Buster," was a national effort to dismantle a network accused of distributing stolen property across the United States. Court documents reveal that Been orchestrated a scheme where she paid individuals, referred to as "boosters," to pilfer goods from various retailers including Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, and Walgreens. These stolen items were subsequently sold and shipped to entities outside of Oklahoma, which then sold the goods online.

The scheme detailed how Been not only recruited and paid the boosters but also advised them on what items to steal. Should any of her recruited thieves get caught, Been was known to either post their bond or add money to their jail accounts to dissuade them from cooperating with law enforcement officials.

Twenty of Been’s co-defendants have also entered guilty pleas and received sentences. Despite the breadth of her criminal network and its impact on retail operations, Been was allowed to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.

The investigation leading to the takedown of Been’s operation was a collaborative effort involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger was the lead prosecutor in the case, marking a notable victory for law enforcement in combating organized retail theft.

For Immediate Release: U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Oklahoma

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