The two suspects accused of robbing a series of CVS Pharmacies in Johnson County are part of an organized retail theft ring, court documents unsealed Wednesday say.
Janeta S. Buzdugan, 24, and Serafim Hornea, 31, are both charged with three counts of organized retail theft and three counts of theft of merchandise greater than $750, both Level 6 felonies; one count of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony; and one count of resisting law enforcement as a Class A misdemeanor. Hornea, also known as Albert Lionte, additionally faces a single charge of leaving the scene of an accident, a Class B misdemeanor. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges against them Wednesday.
Buzdugan and Hornea allegedly committed thefts at CVS Pharmacy stores in Greenwood, Bargersville and Whiteland over the last few months. The two suspects were apprehended after a vehicle pursuit resulting in a crash of their vehicle, and then also a pursuit on foot where Buzdugan was apprehended quickly. Hornea was apprehended only after a perimeter was established and K-9 units were deployed to find Hornea, who was hiding in a New Whiteland neighborhood, prosecutors say.
Court documents detail the thefts at the Greenwood, Bargersville and Whiteland pharmacies, which occurred from Oct. 9 to 10.
Greenwood Police were called to CVS, 655 S. U.S. Highway 31, on Oct. 9 regarding a reported theft where a couple, believed to be Buzdugan and Hornea, reportedly stole various items before fleeing in a white van.
Hornea allegedly took a box of goods to the doors as Buzdugan left the store, triggering the alarm. It is thought Hornea was trying to make staff believe he set off the alarm, rather than Buzdugan. An itemized list of the 119 stolen items totaled $4,467.09, according to court documents.
Additionally, employees at this CVS store said they believed the suspects were the same as a pair who had stolen items from them in August.
Bargersville Police became involved around 1 p.m. Oct. 10, when they were called to respond to a theft in progress at CVS, 5020 N. State Road 135. Two suspects, now identified as Buzdugan and Hornea, were believed to have stolen a bunch of allergy medications before fleeing in a white van.
At the CVS, Buzdugan reportedly appeared to have a large bulge in her skirt and continued to enter a van after a manager called to her, the manager told police. Video footage reportedly showed Buzdugan and Hornea working together and putting items in what appeared to be Buzdugan’s skirt, court documents show.
Officers located the vehicle near Smokey Row Road and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. Buzdugan and Hornea allegedly fled from officers. A short time later, the suspect vehicle lost control and crashed near Proctor Park in New Whiteland, according to court documents.
After the crash, Buzdugan and Hornea reportedly fled on foot. Buzdugan ran approximately 50 yards and ducked into a culvert before being detained. Hornea headed east on foot towards a neighborhood.Officers from multiple agencies then set up a perimeter, and Hornea was later found hiding in a backyard, according to court documents.
Police recovered a belt bag and trash bags with allergy pills and cosmetic products in the Buzdugan and Hornea’s vehicle. The provided list of missing medication had 31 items reported as stolen, with a total value of approximately $787. All of the medication was recovered and returned to the CVS, court documents show.
Whiteland Police also became involved on Oct. 10, when a theft from earlier that day was reported from CVS, 39 U.S. 31 South, at 1:31 p.m. Coincidentally, Whiteland officers were assisting in the pursuit of Buzdugan and Hornea from the Bargersville CVS when the call came in.
Buzdugan and Hornea were seen entering the Whiteland CVS at around 12:34 p.m. While at the store, they reportedly store a variety of over-the-counter medications, hygiene items and cosmetics, court documents show.
In all three incidents, video surveillance was obtained. Buzdugan and Hornea matched the people seen in the video who allegedly stole from the stores, according to court documents.
Neither Buzdugan nor Hornea spoke to police after their arrests. It also appeared they did not speak English, court documents say.
Bargersville Police said last week that both Buzdugan and Hornea are from Romania. Buzdugan is listed on jail bookings as from Denver, Colorado, while Hornea is listed as being from Houston, Texas.
Buzdugan paid her bond on Oct. 11 and is assumed to have returned to Colorado. Hornea’s bond was paid on Oct. 15, and he was then detained by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
