Case Explained: Man accused of using taco seasoning packets to steal $40,000 from Target – Legal Perspective

ORLANDO, Fla. (WKRC) – A man was accused of utilizing taco seasoning packets to steal thousands from Target.

According to a statement issued by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, 39-year-old Keith Wallis of Palm Beach, Florida was taken into custody after he allegedly engaged in an organized retail fraud scheme at several Target locations that spanned from Miami to Orlando, Florida.

Authorities said the investigation found that between July 2025 and February 2026, Wallis committed 75 thefts at multiple Target locations across the state. In each theft, investigators said Wallis selected multiple large boxes of trading cards along with an equal number of 99-cent taco seasoning packets, then went to self-checkout and paid only for the seasoning packets.

Per the release, Wallis then sold the stolen trading cards through his eBay account. The thefts resulted in a loss of more than $10,000 for Target, and Wallis generated almost $40,000 in revenue from selling the stolen goods, authorities said.

The investigation was led by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, with assistance from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is ongoing, and investigators believe Wallis committed additional thefts at Walmart and Publix locations.

If convicted on all charges, Wallis faces up to 90 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Chris Olowin and Monique Wilson will prosecute the case in Florida’s Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

Attorney General Uthmeier confirmed that Wallis has been charged with the following:

• Felony organized retail theft (two counts)

• Felony dealing in stolen property (three counts)

“Florida has the number one economy in the nation because of our commitment to law and order,” Uthmeier said. “Organized retail theft drives up prices for consumers, and that is not a result we are going to tolerate. These schemes will be met with the maximum punishment allowed under the law.”

“This arrest send a clear message that organized retail theft, no matter how coordinated or far-reaching, will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. Those who profit from stealing in our communities will be held accountable,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said in the release.