Woodbury, MN – Jadion Anthony Richards, 44, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, 45, have been arrested and charged in connection with a $1 million shoplifting operation targeting Lululemon stores across the U.S. The couple, originally from Danbury, Connecticut, were arrested on November 14 in Woodbury, Minnesota. They now face felony charges of organized retail theft.
The couple’s arrest followed a raid of their hotel room in Bloomington, Minnesota, where police discovered 12 suitcases filled with over $50,000 worth of Lululemon clothing, all with price tags still attached. Authorities had previously identified the couple as part of a nationwide theft ring, having stolen goods from stores in Connecticut, Colorado, New York, and Utah.
A criminal complaint revealed that Richards and Lawes-Richards had been using organized retail crime tactics, including distraction techniques and blocking store associates while stealing high-value items such as coats and jackets. They reportedly used tools to remove security sensors from the merchandise.
After their arrest, Richards remained silent, while Lawes-Richards denied being involved in the theft at a Lululemon store in Rosedale, Minnesota, the day before their capture. However, police linked the couple to multiple theft incidents, including several in Colorado between October 29 and October 30, 2024.
Richards and Lawes-Richards were released on bond, with Richards posting a $100,000 bond and Lawes-Richards posting a $30,000 bond. Both are scheduled to appear in court on December 16. Prosecutors had requested a $1 million bond for each of them.
Lululemon’s Vice President of Asset Protection, Tristen Shields, emphasized the company’s commitment to combating retail crime, citing their collaboration with law enforcement and investment in advanced investigative tools to hold offenders accountable.