The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Riverview man following an eight-month theft spree targeting multiple Winn-Dixie stores.
Julian Mitchell, 44, is accused of stealing nearly $10,000 worth of merchandise from Winn-Dixie locations across Hillsborough County between March 10, 2025, and November 25, 2025.
Surveillance footage captured Mitchell stealing during more than 100 separate self-checkout transactions. Investigators determined Mitchell was manipulating the self-checkout process to avoid paying full price before leaving the store.
Detectives identified this consistent theft pattern at four Winn-Dixie locations throughout Hillsborough County. Investigators also identified Mitchell by the repeated use of the same loyalty number at checkout for each transaction.
Items Mitchell failed to pay full price for included multiple packs of steaks, chicken wings, laundry detergent, diapers, toilet paper, and other grocery items.
On February 4, 2026, the Retail Theft Unit obtained an arrest warrant and took Mitchell into custody.
Mitchell faces the following charges:
- Retail Theft $3,000 or More (two counts)
- Retail Theft or Coordinated Retail Theft ($750 or More)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
Investigators also determined Mitchell was on active probation beginning December 2, 2025, related to a prior Tampa Police Department case.
As a result, Mitchell additionally faces the following charges:
- Violation of Probation — Cocaine (Sale/Manufacture/Delivery)
- Violation of Probation — Cocaine Possession
- Violation of Probation — Marijuana (Sale/Manufacture/Delivery)