Houston man charged for stealing nearly $500k worth of back up power generators

Harris County Precinct 1 Constable announced charges against James Eric Barns for engaging in organized criminal activity. Barns allegedly used stolen credit cards to buy generators from over 30 companies in the Houston area, selling them at discounted rates on Facebook Marketplace. Investigators estimate losses of over $470,000 since 2023, with attempts to scam more than $900,000. Deputies seized 10 new generators from a storage shed during the operation's shutdown.