Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of a Cleveland County couple involved in a $2 million retail theft operation targeting Home Depot, using the case to highlight urgent needs for expanded prison capacity in the state.
At a Glance
- A Cleveland County couple, Andrew Sellwood and Robyn Rosamond-Sellwood, were arrested for alleged involvement in a $2 million theft scheme targeting Home Depot
- The stolen merchandise required two large moving trucks to transport following the arrests
- Attorney General Griffin is using this case to advocate for increased prison capacity in Arkansas
- Griffin argues that prison overcrowding leads to the early release of nonviolent offenders, undermining the justice system
- This case represents the largest retail crime investigation handled by Griffin’s office to date
Record-Breaking Retail Theft Operation Discovered
Arkansas law enforcement officials have uncovered what Attorney General Tim Griffin calls the largest and most significant retail crime case his office has investigated. The Cleveland County couple, Andrew Sellwood and Robyn Rosamond-Sellwood, face felony theft by receiving charges for their alleged role in a sophisticated scheme involving gift card data manipulation targeting Home Depot.
The scale of the theft operation was substantial, with authorities requiring two large moving trucks to clear out all the stolen merchandise discovered in the couple’s possession.
The husband and wife were allegedly part of a larger criminal enterprise that systematically targeted the home improvement retail giant. The investigation revealed a complex operation that resulted in approximately $2 million in stolen goods – a figure that dramatically exceeds previous retail theft cases handled by the attorney general’s office.
Their arrest represents a significant breakthrough in Arkansas’ ongoing battle against organized retail crime.
Attorney General Highlights Broader Law Enforcement Cooperation
Griffin has emphasized that combating organized retail crime requires collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies. Earlier investigations by his office have yielded additional arrests, including Dominique Price, a Little Rock woman who was already wanted on multiple charges including theft of property, breaking or entering, and criminal use of a prohibited weapon. While that particular investigation did not uncover an organized retail crime ring, it demonstrated effective interagency cooperation.
The attorney general’s office also previously announced the arrests of Gary Hunt, 71, and Latrina Banks, 54, both of Little Rock, on Felony Theft of Property charges. Their case involved systematic targeting of retail stores resulting in nearly $1,000 in losses. The charges were elevated to felonies due to the suspects’ prior criminal records, with Hunt already incarcerated on unrelated charges when the new charges were filed.
Prison Capacity Crisis Highlighted
Griffin is using the Cleveland County case to advocate for increased prison capacity in Arkansas. He argues that current overcrowding in state prisons and county jails results in a problematic dynamic where nonviolent offenders – including those involved in significant property crimes like the Sellwoods – are often the first to be released. This practice, according to Griffin, undermines the effectiveness of misdemeanor justice and creates challenges for maintaining law and order.
Griffin, who brings significant experience to his role as Attorney General, has served as Arkansas’s 20th Lieutenant Governor and as a representative of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District.
His military background includes service as an officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps. This latest case represents one of the most significant achievements in his office’s efforts to combat organized retail crime in the state.
