By Scott Harvey
Commerce – Eleven women face charges stemming from an unusual amount of theft over a 48 hour stretch at the Commerce Wal-Mart. The charges stem from four separate cases. Six of the women, who list an address on the campus of A&M-Commerce, face an additional charge of engaging in criminal activity. Three of the other suspects were said to be from Commerce, while the remaining two lists addresses in San Antonio and Farmersville.
The six individuals with a campus address were identified as 19-year-old Laquishia Johnson, 18-year-old Jasmine Malone, 18-year-old Traquella Gentry, 18-year-old Brittany Johnson, 18-year-old Elexus Allen and 18-year-old Lantisha Blizzard. The other women were identified as 36-year-old Commerce resident Patricia Dreas, 20-year-old Commerce resident Sasha Brown, 32-year-old Commerce resident Tangelia Brown, 19-year-old San Antonio resident Alissa Taylor and a 17-year-old Farmersville female resident.
In all four cases, the arrested women were taken to the Commerce Police Department to be booked in and were consequently transferred to the Hunt County Jail for arraignment. These women face criminal charges as well as civil remedies that may be taken by the store against them. As of Sunday, all women bonded out on $1,000 bond for Theft Over $50 and Under $500 and the six women bonded out on a $5,000 bond for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity. Seven of the women may possibly be Texas A&M University-Commerce students and the Commerce Police Department is working with The University Police Department to determine their status. These women may face additional disciplinary action by the University because of their actions.
A release by the Commerce Police Department states that shoplifting does not pay, noting that all these women face criminal charges as well as civil litigation and a criminal record that will follow them for the rest of their lives.