Mel Viljoen, Peet face deportation after Florida theft arrest

A South African reality TV couple's grocery-theft scheme in Florida spiraled into an immigration nightmare after authorities realized they were on tourist visas.

Viljoens got busted for grand retail theft

• Melany Viljoen and Petrus Viljoen were arrested on March 10 in Boca Raton.
• They allegedly stole over US$5,300 in groceries from a Publix supermarket.
• The scheme reportedly ran from August 2025 through March 2026.
• Bail was set at US$10,000 each.

Ticket-switching was the alleged method

• The couple reportedly scanned cheaper barcodes on pricier items.
• Investigators flagged 392 items that went completely unscanned.
• Surveillance footage and transaction data backed the claims.
• Mel is a cast member of Real Housewives of Pretoria.

ICE stepped in after the visa discovery

• Authorities found both were in the US on tourist visas.
• They got handed over to immigration officials on March 13.
• Peet is being held at a facility nicknamed Alligator Alcatraz.
• Mel was transferred to a separate ICE center in Pompano Beach.

Deportation is on the table

• Immigration authorities are reviewing whether visa rules were violated.
• Harsher legal consequences could follow beyond the theft charges.
• The immigration system backlog means the process may drag out.
• Grand retail theft felony charges still need to be resolved first.