PHILADELPHIA, PA – An illegal puppy ring operating in Philadelphia was broken up and five people involved in the illegal sale of puppies have ben arrested.
The ring sought to defraud and deceive dog lovers by price gouging and using counterfeit money and fake checks to purchase puppies for illegal resale.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the suspects used fake cashier’s checks and counterfeit US Currency to purchase the puppies from breeders in Lancaster County, and then sold the stolen dogs through social media platforms, such as Instagram.
“Nearly all the thefts involved high-demand dog breeds, such as French Bulldog and Yorkshire Terrier puppies, some selling for up to $20,000. With over 30 individual instances of theft, this operation resulted in a loss of more than $430,000 for the dog breeders,” the AG’s office reproted.
“This was theft, pure and simple,” said AG Shapiro. “These individuals exploited the demand for these dogs by not simply being the middle men, but stealing puppies directly from the dog breeders and inserting themselves into a normally joyful process, in order to line their own pockets. We successfully disrupted this operation, but Pennsylvanians looking to purchase a puppy should stay alert, stay informed, and contact my office if they encounter any suspicious sellers.”
Tynise Rivers, Sierra Thompson, Amara Dukuly, Tatiyana Cooper-Laylor, and Darnell Lloyd were all charged with Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft, Theft by Deception, and Corrupt Organizations.