KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Three people were arrested and charged after stealing over $12,000 worth of baby formula throughout Knox County, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, KCSO and the Alcoa Police Department stopped a vehicle with three people traveling on 129 after receiving information from a victimized retailer.
After stopping the vehicle, authorities saw multiple cans of baby formula. While searching the car, officials found 450 cans of stolen baby formula, most of it from Knoxville retailers.
KCSO mentioned that baby formula is often “cut” with other additives, repackaged and sold as more expensive items. The formula can also be stored in hot/cold or damp locations, affecting the formula's integrity and causing babies to become extremely ill.
Three people, Diego Tierrablona Galvon of Dallas, Ana Sanchez Balderas of Dallas and Nancy Espinosa of Atlanta, were all arrested and charged with theft over $10,000 and violation of the Organized Retail Crime Prevention Act.
This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation.