Arkansas AG Charges Woman in $15k Retail Crime Scheme

Arkansas AG - News Releases

Filed March 24th, 2026

Detected March 25th, 2026

Summary

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced charges against Balincia Matthews for organized retail theft and theft of property, stemming from a scheme that allegedly exceeded $15,000 in stolen merchandise from Bath & Body Works stores. Two other women, Alexis Worsham and Erica Jordan, remain at large with active warrants.

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What changed

The Arkansas Attorney General's office has announced felony charges against Balincia Matthews for organized retail theft and multiple counts of theft of property. The investigation, initiated by a Bath & Body Works Market Investigator, identified three suspects believed to be responsible for thefts totaling over $15,000 across multiple store locations in Arkansas. Matthews was arrested on unrelated charges and subsequently charged in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Saline County district courts. Two other individuals, Alexis Worsham and Erica Jordan, are currently at large and have active warrants issued against them.

This enforcement action highlights the AG's commitment to combating organized retail crime within the state. Retailers should be aware of the potential for coordinated theft operations and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned for other entities, this case serves as a warning that individuals involved in such schemes will be identified and prosecuted. Companies should ensure robust internal controls and loss prevention measures are in place to deter and detect organized retail crime, and cooperate with law enforcement investigations.

What to do next

Report suspicious organized retail crime activity to the Arkansas AG's office
Review and enhance internal loss prevention measures

Penalties

Felony charges for organized retail theft and theft of property.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Griffin Announces Organized Retail Crime Charges for Little Rock Woman; 2 Women Remain at Large

March 24, 2026

Griffin: ‘Our commitment to rooting out organized retail crime in Arkansas is unwavering’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement announcing that Balincia Matthews, 27, of Little Rock, was charged with organized retail theft and theft of property:

“Special Agents from my Organized Retail Crime Unit received information from a Bath & Body Works Market Investigator regarding a group of women believed to be targeting multiple Bath & Body Works stores across Arkansas. The reported thefts exceeded $15,000. My office opened an investigation, identified three suspects, and secured warrants for all three.

“On March 18, Matthews was arrested on unrelated charges by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. She was then charged:

in Little Rock District Court for one felony count of organized retail theft and eight felony counts of theft of property;
in North Little Rock District Court for five felony counts of theft of property; and
in Saline County Circuit Court for three felony counts of theft of property. Matthews was previously the subject of an organized retail crime investigation conducted by my office, which led to multiple felony charges across three counties.

“Alexis Worsham, 31, of Little Rock, remains at large and has active warrants:

in Little Rock District Court for three felony counts of theft of property;
in North Little Rock District Court for one felony count of theft of property; and
in Saline County Circuit Court for three felony counts of theft of property.

“Erica Jordan, 31, of North Little Rock, remains at large and has an active warrant in Little Rock District Court for two felony counts of theft of property.

“I am grateful for the exceptional work done by my Special Investigations Division and for the assistance of the Little Rock District Court, North Little Rock District Court, and the Saline County Circuit Court.

“Our commitment to rooting out organized retail crime in Arkansas is unwavering. Whether part of a large syndicate or a smaller coordinated operation, those responsible will be identified and held accountable.

“Anyone with information about Worsham and Jordan’s whereabouts should call my office at (501) 682-2007.”

To download a PDF version of this release, click here.

About Attorney General Tim Griffin

Tim Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023, having previously served as the state’s 20th Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023. From 2011-2015, Griffin served as the 24th representative of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District, where he served on the House Committee on Ways and Means, House Armed Services Committee, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Ethics and House Committee on the Judiciary while also serving as a Deputy Whip for the Majority.

Griffin is currently an officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard and holds the rank of colonel. Griffin served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for more than 28 years. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq.

His previous assignments include serving as the Commander of the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Commander of the 134th Legal Operations Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and as a Senior Legislative Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Pentagon. Griffin earned a master’s degree in strategic studies as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Griffin also served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush; Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas; Senior Investigative Counsel, Government Reform and Oversight Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett, In re: HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.

Griffin is a graduate of Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He attended graduate school at Oxford University. He is admitted to practice law in Arkansas (active) and Louisiana (inactive). Griffin lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, a Camden native, and their three children.

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