Eight people were indicted this week in New York on charges related to what prosecutors describe as a large-scale retail theft operation that netted nearly $5 million worth of stolen merchandise.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office announced the charges on Wednesday, accusing the defendants of conspiring to impersonate shipping carriers as part of what officials called a "wide-ranging retail theft ring" operating throughout the northeastern United States.

According to prosecutors, the theft ring targeted logistics sites across Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey, stealing a variety of high-value items including steaks, cheeses, copper wiring, and cigarettes. The stolen goods were then allegedly transported and sold in New York.

The operation involved the defendants allegedly posing as legitimate shipping carriers to gain access to distribution centers and warehouses where the thefts occurred. The scheme allowed the group to steal large quantities of merchandise before transporting it across state lines for resale.

The indictments represent the culmination of an investigation into organized retail crime that has affected multiple states in the region. Prosecutors have not yet released details about the specific charges each defendant faces or their identities.