Charmaine Sanchez

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced the indictment of another serial shoplifter, Charmaine Sanchez, on multiple charges related to brazen criminal activity that has wreaked havoc in New Mexico’s retail community.

The indictment alleges 19 counts, including 12 felonies. If convicted, Sanchez faces more than 22 years in prison. 

“Serial shoplifting means that honest, hardworking New Mexicans have to pay more, and that is intolerable at a time when skyrocketing prices are already pressuring families,” Attorney General Balderas said. “We will continue to aggressively target, arrest, and prosecute repeat offenders whose actions harm New Mexico families.”

From September to November 2021, Sanchez participated in six separate shoplifting incidents at Albuquerque department stores resulting in losses of nearly $8,000.  In two of these incidents, Sanchez was joined by Athena Padilla, another serial shoplifter indicted in March as part of the same effort to target organized retail crime.  

This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the emerging Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force. The investigation involved the NM Office of the Attorney General and asset protection personnel from the retail community. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Gardner.

The indictment is only an allegation and Sanchez is presumed innocent until proven guilty.