Florida authorities say a 39-year-old man from Pompano Beach is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly pulling off what might be one of the most oddly specific retail schemes in recent memory. According to the Attorney General’s Office, Keith Wallis was arrested in late February following a months-long investigation into a string of thefts at Target stores across the state, and it was all using taco seasoning for Pokémon cards.
And this wasn’t a one-time grab-and-go situation. Investigators claim the Florida man carried out at least 75 separate incidents between July 2025 and February 2026, hitting locations from Miami all the way to Orlando, per Yahoo.
Authorities say Wallis would walk into Target, fill his cart with boxed Pokémon trading cards, which, for collectors, can be worth serious money, and then grab an equal number of 99-cent taco seasoning packets. At self-checkout, he allegedly scanned and paid only for the seasoning packets, leaving the much pricier trading cards effectively unpaid for.
Florida Man Uses Taco Seasoning To Steal Pokémon Cards
Investigators believe the tactic fits a method known as “stacking,” where multiple items are grouped together, but only one actually gets scanned. In self-checkout lanes, where oversight can be limited, that kind of maneuver can slip through at least for a while.
But here’s where it gets even more eyebrow-raising. After walking out with the cards, authorities say Wallis resold them online through eBay, generating nearly $40,000 in revenue. Meanwhile, Target’s reported loss is said to exceed $10,000.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier didn’t mince words when addressing the case. “Organized retail theft drives up prices for consumers, and that is not a result we are going to tolerate,” he said in a statement. He added that cases like this would be pursued with the “maximum punishment allowed under the law.”
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw echoed the tough stance, stating, “This arrest sends a clear message that organized retail theft, no matter how coordinated or far-reaching, will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”
Wallis now faces multiple charges, including felony organized retail theft, dealing in stolen property, and money laundering. If convicted on all counts, he could be looking at up to 90 years behind bars under Florida law. That’s a staggering number, especially for a scheme involving trading cards and grocery aisle spices.
Major Jail Time Involved
And this might not even be the end of it. Authorities say the investigation is still ongoing, with law enforcement examining whether he could be connected to similar thefts at other retailers, including Walmart and Publix.
Under Florida statutes, repeated thefts can be combined over time to reach higher felony thresholds. When totals climb above $20,000, penalties can reach up to 15 years per count and stacking charges (no pun intended) can dramatically increase potential sentencing.
Meanwhile, the internet had a lot to say about the incident. “The hustle is real,” one person joked. “No Epstein arrests but this guy gets 90 years. Our country is lost,” said another. “So he still could’ve turned a $30k profit if he would’ve just paid for them?” another baffled social media user stated. “Meanwhile Casey Anthony walked free,” a fourth comment read.
It looks like this Florida man’s taco seasoning scheme didn’t pay off the way he wanted it to. Meanwhile, there seems to be something to be said for selling Pokémon cards online.
Dylan Cook 
