Texas Brothers Sold Millions in Drugs Stolen From Walmart, Walgreens by Immigrant ‘boosters,' Feds Say

Two brothers from Houston have been indicted on charges that they fenced millions of dollars worth of over-the-counter medicine and health and beauty supplies in separate operations.Yasser Ouwad, 47, and Bilal Awad, 45, both of Houston, each face federal charges of possessing and transporting stolen property over state lines. The indictment alleges that Ouwad and Awad used “boosters” to steal goods, often hiring unauthorized immigrants to do so, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the southern district of Texas.Boosters steal goods for resale to fences, who buy it at a fraction of the retail price and then sell it at a profit. Ouwad and Awad are accused of acting as high-level fences, receiving products from boosters who used fake identities to ship the merchandise, then cleaning and shipping them to out-of-state companies.  Continue reading...