Andrew Ford

FLORIDA TODAY

UPDATE: The couple accused of running an organized theft ring out of their West Melbourne ice cream shop got a lower bond Friday, after their defense attorneys questioned the six figure sum they allegedly profited from selling stolen goods.

James and Lisa McDermott were arrested Thursday, booked at Brevard County jail on charges of racketeering, money laundering, and dealing in stolen property.

They originally faced a bond of $65,000, but it was reduced to $45,000.

Their arrest warrants allege they bought stolen health care products and sold them on eBay.

Earlier story, 1:49 p.m.: Brevard County Sheriff's agents arrested a former county commission candidate and her husband Thursday, accusing them of being part of an organized theft ring that dealt stolen health products out of their ice cream parlor.

Lisa McDermott, 50, and her husband James, 59, were booked at Brevard County Jail on charges of racketeering, money laundering, and dealing in stolen property. They're being held on a $65,000 bond.

Maj. Tod Goodyear said some of the money the couple allegedly earned through the theft ring was used to finance Lisa McDermott's campaign for the District 4 County Commission race. She withdrew from the race in June, a week after BCSO agents searched her business.

Goodyear said Lisa McDermott had two bank accounts. Money from the ice cream shop and the sale of online goods was put into one account, and then some of that money was transferred into a second account used for campaign purchases.

A report from the supervisor of elections office showed McDermott spent $38,063.29 of the $41,299.83 she raised for her campaign before she withdrew.

A man who answered a phone number listed on McDermott's campaign website said he had no comment and refused to provide the name of McDermott's lawyer.

The BCSO investigation began in April 2013, after agents received several reports of the theft of large amounts of health products from local stores. Investigators found an informant who said people were stealing health products and taking them to the Ice Cream Depot in West Melbourne, a business owned by the McDermotts. Agents believe thieves were directed by James McDermott to specific places around the state to steal things, which were then brought to the ice cream shop.

Goodyear said the ring dealt in products like Rogaine, Sonicare toothbrushes and refills and Crest Whitestrips.

Investigators determined the stolen goods were put on eBay – they recovered records from eBay and PayPal that showed the McDermotts received more than $111,000 from the sale of health products between November 2012 and June 2014.

BCSO searched the Ice Cream Depot June 5, seizing health products and computers. Agents say the computers had more evidence of the illegal sale of health products.

The day his business was searched, James McDermott told FLORIDA TODAY he sells things on eBay. Though the eBay account was in his wife's name, he said she was not involved with it.

"I guess I mighta bought some stolen product, accidentally," he said. "I did not know it was stolen."

James said he stopped doing business with the two men he bought stolen goods from when he realized they were "crooked."

Agents also arrested Leonard Greenberg, 79, accusing him of racketeering, dealing in stolen property and organized retail theft, according to a release. Goodyear said Brandon Lettiere, 29, and Susan Lovell, 55, also were arrested in connection with the theft ring.

Theirry Lettiere, 60, is serving a five year sentence in prison for retail theft – he will be extradited to Brevard on new charges related to this investigation, according to a release.

Contact Ford at aford@floridatoday.com, 321-242-3601 or follow on Twitter @AndrewFordNews.