Previous Chatham County Assistant DA to lead Georgia’s first statewide Organized Retail Crime Unit

ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV)—Georgia’s first statewide Organized Retail Crime Unit will be led by a previous Assistant District Attorney as of Friday.

Attorney General Chris Carr has announced the hire of former Cobb County Assistant District Attorney Timothy Ruffini to lead Georgia’s first statewide Organized Retail Crime Unit. The new hire is supposed to oversee a team of prosecutors and investigators who will be working to combating the criminal networks that are engaged in recurring thefts and acts of violence targeting businesses throughout the state, according to the

.

Prior to his role in Cobb County, Ruffini served as a Chatham County Assistant District Attorney for more than 10 years. He was assigned to the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, and he also assumed the role of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force in the Southern District of Georgia. Ruffini is said to have been tasked with coordinating investigations and prosecutions involving violent felony offenses as well as felons in possession of firearms, according to the press release.

He served as the District Attorney’s Office representative for the “End Gun Violence: Step Forward Initiative” with the Savannah Police Department (SPD). He was said to have worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia on its Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force.

As a Chatham County Assistant District Attorney, Ruffini assisted in the successful trial of State v. Keith Marrow , a triple homicide in which the defendant was convicted on three counts of Malice Murder and sentenced to life without parole. He also indicted State v. Jarquail Dixon, et. al. , a racketeering indictment charging 11 co-defendants with a total of 107 counts, including allegations of approximately $1 million in auto thefts, according to the press release.

This new unit will be located in the Attorney General’s Prosecution Division, which also includes Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit, Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, White Collar Unit and Cyber Crime Unit.

“Tim is a talented prosecutor whose knowledge and experience will prove essential as we work to combat organized retail crime throughout our state,” said Carr. “At a time when it’s incredibly difficult to hire staff, where workforce is cited as one of the most significant challenges facing businesses of all sizes, the additional concern a potential employee now has is for his or her own personal safety. With our new statewide Organized Retail Crime Unit, we will continue to serve as a force multiplier by working with all levels of law enforcement to dismantle these increasingly violent and brazen networks once and for all.”

With the support of Governor Brian Kemp and members of the General Assembly, funding for the new Organized Retail Crime Unit is included in the state’s FY 2025 budget.

“Those who steal from Georgia businesses will absolutely face consequences,” said Kemp. “That’s why we made funding this unit a budget priority: to put those who profit from the loss of others on notice that we will not stop in ensuring justice. I’m confident the Attorney General’s Office will diligently carry out this mission and help keep Georgia the best state in the nation to do business.”

Georgia businesses are estimated to lose over $3 billion to retail theft annually. The press release said that this includes $1.6 billion in stolen goods and $326 million in lost tax revenue, along with 17,000 lost jobs.

According to a 2021 study, nearly 76% of retailers reported physical assault against an associate as a result of organized retail crime, while 41% reported attacks involving a weapon. Along with that, the Office of the Attorney General’s press release said that this unlawful activity can also be linked to other criminal operations, including things like gang activity, human and drug trafficking, corruption, bribery and money laundering.

“I’m honored to join Attorney General Carr as we continue to build upon the excellent work and reputation of the Department of Law’s Prosecution Division,” said Ruffini. “I look forward to building a team of dedicated prosecutors and investigators who will work alongside our business partners, as well as local, state and federal law enforcement, to relentlessly combat the growing problem of organized retail crime and the violence associated with it.”

Ruffini most recently served as a Cobb County Assistant District Attorney, where he was assigned to the Marietta, Cobb and Smyrna (MCS) Organized Crime Task Force Narcotics Unit. Throughout his career, the press release states, Ruffini has handled felony investigations ranging from aggravated assault and armed robbery to complex gang, drug and racketeering indictments.

Ruffini’s hire takes effect on Aug. 16, 2024.