Driftsprint

News
World
Americas
US Crime News

Florida man used taco seasoning packets to steal $40,000 worth of goods from Target, police say

Keith Wallis faces up to 90 years in prison if convicted on all charges

Isabel Keane in New York Sunday 01 March 2026 21:10 GMT

Bookmark

Close popoverProject Salt: Anti-ICE protesters clog Target checkouts to purchase specific item after immigration raids Evening Headlines

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Email*SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

A Florida man is facing retail theft charges after local authorities say he used taco seasoning packets as a ploy to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of trading cards from Target.

Keith Wallis, 39, of Palm Beach, was arrested last week after allegedly engaging in an organized retail fraud scheme at Target locations from Miami to Orlando between July 2025 and February 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a press release.

Investigators believe Wallis committed 75 thefts. During each, he would grab multiple large boxes of trading cards and an equal number of 99-cent taco seasoning packets.

Wallis would bring his items to the self-checkout line, but only pay for the seasoning packets.

Authorities said that Wallis would resell the stolen trading cards on eBay, generating nearly $40,000 in revenue from the stolen goods.

A Florida man was arrested after allegedly using taco seasoning packets as a ploy to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of trading cards from Target

open image in galleryA Florida man was arrested after allegedly using taco seasoning packets as a ploy to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of trading cards from Target (Getty/iStock)

His alleged thefts resulted in a loss of over $10,000 for Target, according to the attorney general’s office.

open image in galleryKeith Wallis faces up to 90 years in prison if he is found guilty on all charges (Broward County Sheriff's Office)

Wallis was charged with two counts of felony organized retail theft, three counts of felony dealing in stolen property and one count of felony money laundering.

Authorities say their investigation is ongoing, but that they believe Wallis committed additional thefts at Walmart and Publix locations.

If Wallis is found guilty on all charges, he faces up to 90 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, according to the press release.

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

Uthmeier, the attorney general, noted in the release that Florida has the “number one economy” in the country because of its “commitment to law and order.”

“Organized retail theft drives up prices for consumers, and that is not the result we are going to tolerate. These schemes will be met with the maximum punishment allowed under the law.”