Savannah PD releases details on six arrests from Best Buy ‘blackmail scheme’

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - [UPDATE] Booking records show another woman was arrested and charged with theft by receiving stolen property in connection to Best Buy “blackmail scheme.”

Savannah Police named the woman as Crystal Small. This brings the number of arrests to six.

The man pictured in a black hat and black shirt in those surveillance photos, Savannah Police confirmed, has been cleared, as officers say he didn’t participate in the actual theft. Police say it’s possible other arrests are coming in the case.

[ORIGINAL STORY] Four people so far are now behind bars in connection with a $40,000 theft at Best Buy last month.

The scheme took place over a two week period.

Savannah police are confirming that includes an employee of the store.

A Savannah Police report confirms an employee at the store, 20-year-old Dorian Allen, was part of the scheme to steal $40,000 worth of merchandise.

Thursday, police confirmed five arrests all tied to an alleged blackmail scheme.

Police say Allen told investigators he was being blackmailed by a “hacker group” who threatened to release nude photos he had posted on Instagram if he didn’t help them steal from the store.

He claimed the hackers sent him emails with descriptions of whom he should allow to steal merchandise.

You can see the police report here:

So far, Dorian Allen- the store employee, along with Savannah Pendergraph, Shabria Summers, Leslie Bostic, and Brenda Gardner, have all been booked into the Chatham County jail to face charges in this case.

Five women are being charged with theft by receiving stolen property so far, and the employee is charged with theft by taking.

The police report shows Allen allegedly helped customers steal 143 products worth $40,734.19, including multiple PlayStation five consoles, Xbox gaming systems, Meta Quest VR headsets, AirPods, Beats headphones, and other electronics.

One of the women arrested for shoplifting from Best Buy-we’ve confirmed through court records is the mother of a murder suspect in a Bloomingdale homicide, Franklin James Jr.

He’s the teen charged with shooting and killing Antonio Thornton Jr. last month, who was in town visiting family.

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Additional arrests are expected in this Best Buy Theft case. We will provide updates as we receive more information from the police.