Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, from Danbury, Connecticut, were arrested Thursday after being linked to an organized retail theft ring responsible for stealing approximately $1 million worth of merchandise from Lululemon stores across the United States.
The couple was initially stopped at the Rosedale Center store in Minnesota after a security alarm went off when they attempted to leave with stolen items. However, they were allowed to leave, but local authorities later linked them to a previous theft. Investigators found that Richards and Lawes-Richards had stolen nearly $5,000 worth of merchandise the day before and had stolen a significant amount of items during a previous trip to Minnesota in September.
Upon further investigation, law enforcement uncovered more evidence, including a hotel room at the JW Marriott in Bloomington, where they found approximately $50,000 worth of stolen Lululemon clothing. Richards and Lawes-Richards, who were part of a larger scheme that involved multiple accomplices, targeted Lululemon stores across the country, using a technique to reattach stolen security tags to merchandise before returning it for refunds.
The couple’s theft operation spanned several stores, including locations in Edina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, and Roseville, with the stolen goods returned for a refund, allowing them to pocket the difference on a credit card. The Lululemon investigator estimated that they had returned about $500,000 worth of items, leading to a total loss of nearly $1 million for the company.
Both Richards and Lawes-Richards face felony charges for organized retail theft, with a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Their next court appearance is scheduled for December 16.
