PEORIA, AZ – Peoria police arrested a suspect last week as a result of a month-long sting operation regarding multiple thefts of medical supplies.
Authorities arrested Samuel Camerano Jr., 49, of Phoenix, on October 8 after he allegedly bought large quantities of stolen diabetes test strips and sold them for profit to distributors or on websites such as eBay.
The sting dubbed ‘Operation Interceptor,’ began after a Target store began reporting to Peoria police that over $2,000 worth of testing strips was being stolen from the retailer each weekend.
Police identified Camerano through eBay and his classified advertisements in local newspapers stating that he was looking to purchase testing strips, officials say.
Undercover officers reportedly sold Camerano about 30 boxes of testing strips, which he believed to be stolen property, on five different occasions. The boxes were valued around $2,254 and Camerano purchased them for only $215 each time.
Camerano was arrested after the fifth transaction he had with the undercover agents and upon a search of his home, police found almost $15,000 worth of stolen testing strips, officials say.
Authorities also reportedly found 25 boxes of supplies inside Camerano’s vehicle that were ready to be shipped out to a distributor.
According to authorities, police also heard several calls on Camerano’s answering machine from possible supply thieves looking to sell testing strips to him.
On one particular message, a caller gave a make and expiration date consistent with boxes reported stolen from a Target store the night before, officials say.
Camerano was charged with eight counts of attempted trafficking of stolen property and one count of fraudulent schemes.
Since Camerano’s arrest, there have been no further reports of stolen diabetic supplies from Target, officials say.
