Tarrant County Jury Gives Repeat Retail Theft Offender 45-Year Prison Sentence

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Tarrant County jury has convicted a 28-year-old man of organized retail theft with a deadly weapon and sentenced him to 45 years in prison.

According to the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Winston Love was found guilty following what prosecutors described as the first jury trial conducted under Texas’ strengthened Organized Retail Theft statute, which applies to offenses committed on or after Sept. 1, 2025.

Prosecutors said Love targeted multiple Target stores across Tarrant County and surrounding areas during a 50-day crime spree in 2025.

Investigators determined Love stole more than 200 LEGO sets, approximately a dozen coffee makers, several vacuum cleaners and multiple PlayStation controllers. Authorities estimated the total value of the stolen merchandise exceeded $30,000.

One of the incidents occurred on Oct. 27, 2025, at a Target store in Mansfield. According to prosecutors, Love fled the store at approximately 7:40 a.m. after a loss prevention officer recognized him and called him by name.

While attempting to escape, Love drove recklessly, at times traveling on the wrong side of the roadway and creating a danger for other motorists, including children riding on school buses, prosecutors said.

The case involved cooperation among several law enforcement agencies and retail investigators.

The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office thanked the Target Loss Prevention Team and the police departments in Euless, Grapevine, Mansfield and Watauga for their work on the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Dylan Campbell and Lori Varnell. District Attorney Investigator Ryan Holland assisted with the prosecution.

Love was convicted of organized retail theft with a deadly weapon and sentenced by the jury to 45 years in prison.