David Eugene Gregory, 58, of White Plains
David Eugene Gregory, 58, of White Plains, has been charged with two felony counts of theft involving property valued between $1,500 and $25,000 and one felony count of theft scheme involving the same value range following two alleged thefts from a Waldorf optical store. He also faces a separate felony theft-scheme charge in Charles County Circuit Court stemming from thefts reported at a Waldorf home-improvement store.
The charges are part of a broader investigation that the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said involved thefts from home-improvement stores, optical businesses and other retailers across the county. Gregory was arrested June 24, 2026, after investigators obtained an arrest warrant.
In the LensCrafters investigation, police allege Gregory stole multiple pairs of glasses during separate visits to the Festival Way store in Waldorf on April 25 and May 1, 2026.
A LensCrafters manager told an officer that the person involved in the April theft returned May 1 and stole several more pairs of glasses. The manager estimated the glasses taken during the second incident were worth approximately $9,035 and said the man left in a white Kia Soul.
Surveillance video allegedly showed Gregory entering the store at about 1:06 p.m. May 1 wearing a green hat, a blue-and-white striped hooded jacket, blue jeans and two-tone Nike Air Max shoes. Investigators said he spoke with an employee, walked around the store for approximately 10 minutes, removed several pairs of glasses from display walls and concealed them in his clothing. He left at about 1:16 p.m. without paying.
Police also reviewed video from the April 25 incident. Investigators said the man entered at approximately 3:33 p.m., walked toward a display of Versace glasses and spent about eight minutes removing glasses and hiding them in his clothing. He left without paying at approximately 3:41 p.m. The merchandise taken that day was valued at $2,198.
Investigators placed the combined value of the glasses from the two incidents at $11,233. Police allege the same method was used during both visits, forming the basis of the theft-scheme charge. An officer reported recognizing Gregory from an investigation into thefts at a Waldorf Home Depot and said Gregory’s driver’s license photograph matched the person shown in the LensCrafters recordings.
Gregory is separately accused of stealing construction and outdoor-living merchandise from Lowe’s on Crain Highway in Waldorf on May 19 and May 22, 2025.
Police allege he loaded approximately $1,245.26 in construction materials onto a large cart during the first incident, passed all checkout points without paying and left in a gray Ford truck displaying a dealer tag. Three days later, he allegedly used the same method to take approximately $401.86 in outdoor-living merchandise before leaving in a dark blue Ford truck.
The two Lowe’s thefts, totaling $1,647.12, were discovered by a loss-prevention manager during an audit, according to the allegations. The manager reviewed surveillance footage that showed the thefts but investigators initially could not identify the person or trace the dealer tags.
An officer later investigating thefts at Home Depot said the suspect and vehicle shown in that store’s recordings matched those seen in the Lowe’s videos. During the Home Depot incidents, the truck displayed a standard license plate rather than a dealer tag, allowing investigators to trace the vehicle to Gregory.
The original Lowe’s case was moved from Charles County District Court to Circuit Court, where Gregory is charged with felony theft scheme involving property valued between $1,500 and $25,000. An initial appearance is scheduled for July 24, 2026.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office said detectives served a search warrant at Gregory’s home on Diamond Ridge Lane in White Plains following his arrest. Investigators reported recovering a large quantity of suspected stolen merchandise, including clothing, boots, shoes, household goods and lawn equipment.
Detectives also recovered two firearms. Authorities said Gregory is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions and that additional weapons charges were pending.
Investigators said evidence found during the initial search indicated drugs may also have been inside the home. Narcotics detectives obtained a second search warrant and allegedly recovered cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl with an estimated combined value of approximately $48,000, along with cash. Additional drug charges were also pending.
Gregory was released from the Charles County Detention Center on June 25, 2026, after posting a $20,000 bond.
