A Connecticut couple has been charged in Minnesota for their alleged involvement in a nationwide shoplifting ring targeting Lululemon stores, stealing an estimated $1 million in merchandise.
Jadion Anthony Richards, 44, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, 45, both from Danbury, Connecticut, are accused of organized retail theft.
They were released on bail—$100,000 for Richards and $30,000 for Lawes-Richards—and are set to appear in Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul on December 16.
The Lululemon Scheme Uncovered
According to court documents, Lululemon’s investigators had been monitoring the couple before their November 14 encounter with police at a Roseville, Minnesota store.
The retailer claims the duo caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses across multiple states, including Colorado, Utah, New York, and their home state of Connecticut.
When authorities searched their Bloomington hotel room, they found over $50,000 worth of Lululemon clothing packed in suitcases.
Investigators say the couple would hit stores for a few days, steal merchandise, and then return to the East Coast to make fraudulent returns for new items.
These items were later exchanged for store credit refunds, fueling their cycle of theft.
How They Pulled It Off
The alleged tactics involved meticulous planning.
Richards would first buy a small item, return to the sales floor, and—with the help of Lawes-Richards—swap security tags from stolen goods onto the purchased item.
Meanwhile, Lawes-Richards and an accomplice concealed high-value leggings under their clothing.
When alarms triggered at the exit, Richards would present his purchased items to distract staff, allowing the women to walk away with the stolen goods.
Lululemon Responds
Lululemon’s Vice President of Asset Protection, Tristen Shields, praised the collaboration with law enforcement, stating:
“This outcome underscores our efforts to combat retail crime through advanced technology, training, and investigative work. We remain dedicated to addressing and preventing this industrywide issue.”
A New Law in Action
The case falls under Minnesota’s recently enacted organized retail theft law, which aims to dismantle criminal operations targeting retailers. State Senator Ron Latz, one of the law’s authors, noted:
“This type of theft harms retailers, workers, and consumers alike. I’m glad to see the law functioning as intended.”
The couple’s case isn’t isolated—two Minnesota women were charged under the same law earlier this year for theft at a Minneapolis Lululemon store.
If convicted, the thieving Lululemon lovers could spend 15 years in prison.
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