Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 24-year-old woman from Williston, Dellana Amilya Sams, found herself in legal trouble following her arrest on charges of executing a fraudulent scheme. The arrest came after a Target employee accused her of stealing merchandise worth more than $1,500 over 17 separate incidents at a local store.

The chain of events leading to her arrest unfolded around 2:30 p.m. on December 31, when a Gainesville Police Department officer was dispatched to the Target located at 3970 SW Archer Road. A Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) at the store had observed Sams selecting items worth $99.13 and leaving the store without paying. This action prompted the LPO to intervene and escort her to the store’s Loss Prevention office.

During the investigation, the LPO revealed to the responding officer that Sams had been previously seen shoplifting on 16 other occasions, accumulating goods valued at $1,524.01. However, due to the inability to detain her at the time, these incidents had not been reported to law enforcement until now.

Following her arrest, Sams was read her Miranda rights and admitted to the theft that occurred on December 31, as well as the 16 previous incidences of shoplifting. Despite claiming unemployment as a single mother, Sams confessed she had the means to pay for the items but chose not to, citing her reluctance to wait in long checkout lines as the reason for her actions.

Sams has been charged with petit theft and engaging in a scheme to defraud. Her criminal history is unavailable because of the holiday, but her arrest report notes that she does not have any previous theft convictions. Judge Phillip Pena ordered her released on her own recognizance.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.