WASHINGTON, DC — On May 13, Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) announced House passage of his bipartisan bill, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA). Riley’s legislation will crack down on organized theft rings, strengthen law enforcement, and protect Upstate families and small businesses from rising crime and higher costs.

“Working families and small businesses across Upstate New York are already stretched thin, and organized retail crime is making it worse,” said Rep. Riley. “These criminal networks drive up prices and put a massive strain on the small businesses and local job creators our communities depend on. This bipartisan bill gives law enforcement stronger tools to crack down on organized crime, keep costs low for hardworking families, and ensure criminals who prey on our communities are held accountable.”

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would:

• Expand federal prosecution authority over organized retail and supply chain theft by allowing prosecutors to aggregate stolen goods over a 12-month period
• Strengthen anti-money laundering laws targeting criminal enterprises profiting from organized theft
• Authorize criminal forfeiture of assets gained through organized retail and supply chain crimes
• Crack down on prepaid cards and gift cards used to launder criminal proceeds
• Establish a Department of Homeland Security coordination center to improve federal enforcement efforts

Nationally, organized retail crime costs businesses and consumers more than $121 billion annually, while these criminal networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In 2025, 50 percent of retailers reported increased cargo and supply-chain theft tied to organized crime groups, while majorities also reported rising digital fraud, phone scams, and large-scale theft operations. In New York alone, State Police have recovered more than $2.6 million in stolen goods, conducted over 1,000 targeted operations, made more than 1,200 arrests, and filed over 2,100 criminal charges—underscoring the enormous scale of this threat and the urgent need for stronger federal enforcement tools.