Attorney General Chris Carr recently announced that his Organized Retail Crime Unit obtained a new indictment charging Douglas County man, Michael Justin Williams, with a pattern of forgery targeting RaceTrac Inc., Family Dollar Stores, Inc., and The Parker Holding Company, LLC (Parker’s Kitchen).
In a recent comment on this investigation, AG Carr discussed the rising threat of organized retail crime and its potential impact on Georgia’s business environment. To the Attorney General, this case is also about protecting Georgia's consumers from the unintended consequences of retail crime.
“This is a multi-billion-dollar problem for retailers in all industries, and it’s leading to increased costs for Georgia consumers,” said AG Carr. “That’s exactly why we created Georgia’s first statewide Organized Retail Crime Unit, and we will ensure that criminals are held accountable.”
The Case
As asserted in the indictment, between June 10, 2025, and July 9, 2025, Mr. Williams engaged in this activity in Mableton, Lithia Springs, Douglasville, Norcross, Forest Park, Atlanta, McDonough, East Point, Riverdale, Stone Mountain, Bogart, Pooler, and Metter.
To clarify, Mr. Williams is alleged to have made, altered, and possessed fraudulent coupons that purported to provide an unauthorized discount of $8 off one pack of Newport cigarettes, reducing the cost to below $2 per pack.
This case was investigated by asset protection teams with RaceTrac Inc., Family Dollar Stores Inc., and The Parker Holding Company, LLC. Various law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation as well, including the Douglas Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
On February 18 of this year, the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Unit presented evidence to a Douglas County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment of Mr. Williams.
The specific charges against the defendant include six charges of forgery and one count of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
