A husband and wife from South Florida orchestrated a statewide criminal network that stole and resold over $1.1 million worth of baby formula, leaving store shelves empty and forcing parents to scramble for essential supplies for their infants.
15-Month Investigation Exposes Organized Crime Network
Mohammed Alsaidi, 59, and Zeina Abdul-Hassan Sou Zabib, 49, both of Lake Worth, face charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and dealing in stolen property. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office announced the charges Thursday following a 15-month investigation. The couple allegedly ran their fencing operation from a Lake Worth residence and a warehouse located in Davie, coordinating with professional thieves across the state.
BABY FORMULA THEFT RING – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of two alleged ringleaders in a baby formula theft ring. https://t.co/Athuur4zwk
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) September 11, 2026
The operation functioned through a network of professional shoplifters, known as boosters, who targeted major retailers including Publix, Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Winn-Dixie. The thieves sold stolen formula cans to Alsaidi and Zabib for just $10 each, roughly one-fifth of the retail price. The couple then stored, distributed, and resold the formula for substantial profit margins. Investigators linked the enterprise to more than 150 separate baby formula thefts throughout Florida between 2024 and 2026.
Nine Accomplices Already Face Charges
Authorities have already charged nine boosters connected to the criminal network. Kenneth L. Jones Jr. stands accused of executing more than 50 individual thefts of baby formula, with the stolen products valued at over $70,000. The arrest of the boosters provided investigators with the evidence trail that led directly to Alsaidi and Zabib at the top of the operation.
Impact on Families and Communities
Attorney General Uthmeier condemned the operation in stark terms, stating that stealing baby formula from parents who depend on it to feed their children represents an unconscionable crime. He emphasized that organized retail theft damages communities by driving up prices and creating artificial shortages that harm law-abiding families. Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw highlighted the ripple effects these crimes create throughout communities. When parents cannot find baby formula on store shelves, fear of shortages spreads rapidly. This panic forces families to search multiple stores or stockpile formula when they locate it, which further restricts availability for other families who desperately need it for their infants.
Crackdown on Retail Crime Continues
The case represents part of a broader effort by Florida law enforcement to combat organized retail theft operations that have proliferated across the state. Officials maintain that these criminal enterprises are not victimless crimes, as they directly affect working families through higher prices and reduced product availability. The investigation demonstrates how professional theft rings operate with business-like efficiency, using networks of thieves and sophisticated distribution channels to maximize profits from stolen merchandise.