In a major crackdown, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of a Cleveland County couple accused of orchestrating a $2 million Home Depot theft ring, intensifying debates over prison overcrowding and justice reform.
At a Glance
- Arkansas AG Tim Griffin reveals arrests in $2 million Home Depot theft operation
- Suspects Andrew and Robyn Sellwood allegedly manipulated gift card data
- Investigation marks Griffin’s largest retail crime case to date
- Griffin urges expansion of prison capacity to prevent early releases
- Tensions rise between state officials and the Board of Corrections over prison reforms
Organized Retail Crime Ring Exposed
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of Andrew and Robyn Sellwood, a Cleveland County couple accused of leading a sophisticated $2 million theft scheme targeting Home Depot. The suspects allegedly manipulated gift card data to amass a massive haul of stolen merchandise—so large that it reportedly filled two moving trucks. According to the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, this represents the largest retail crime case Griffin’s team has tackled.
Watch KATV’s report on the theft ring and AG Griffin’s prison reform stance.
In addition to the Sellwoods, Griffin’s office recently arrested Gary Hunt and Latrina Banks of Little Rock, charging them with felony theft after uncovering a pattern of repeated retail targeting. As noted by Griffin, their charges were elevated due to prior convictions, exposing a larger issue of repeat offenses in organized retail theft.
Calls for Prison Reform Amid Overcrowding
The case has sparked renewed urgency in addressing Arkansas’s overwhelmed prison system. Griffin insists that without expanding prison capacity, offenders like the Sellwoods and others risk being released early due to lack of space. He called it a “loophole” that lets criminal networks exploit systemic weaknesses.
According to Arkansas Online, Griffin has repeatedly warned that nonviolent, repeat offenders are often among the first released under overcrowded conditions—jeopardizing public safety. He supports Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ push to build additional prison space, noting that nearly 500 new beds are urgently needed.
Tensions Between State Officials and the Board of Corrections
Efforts to expand incarceration capacity have sparked conflict between state leaders and the Arkansas Board of Corrections. A recent law sought to give the governor authority over corrections personnel decisions, but a Pulaski County judge temporarily blocked its implementation, as reported by Yahoo News.
Despite institutional roadblocks, Griffin remains committed to both enforcing retail crime laws and fixing a prison system that, in his view, fails to deliver justice when capacity is compromised. He argues that Arkansas citizens deserve safety and that businesses shouldn’t be “so easily targeted,” a problem he says will persist unless systemic reforms are made.
