(NewsWorthy.news) – The Justice Department of California has filed a complaint against a mother of three, alleging that she is behind a massive shoplifting enterprise that reached across the country.
The state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, issued the complaint against 53-year-old Michelle Mack, who is accused of paying people from throughout the United States to steal from beauty stores, have them send the products to her home in San Diego, and then resell the inventory on Amazon. Mack is said to have stolen makeup and clothing items that are worth millions of dollars, a scheme which she allegedly led for over 10 years.
Bonta detailed in his complaint that a search warrant used in December 2023 to search Mack’s home—shared with her husband, Kenneth—uncovered over $300,000 worth of beauty and fashion products.
Mack is said to have covered all necessary costs for more than 10 other women who were responsible for stealing the products and mail them to her. The accused ringleader allegedly sold the stolen items for a discounted price via her Amazon Marketplace account.
Investigators have named her shoplifting coalition the “California Girls,” although the scheme apparently operated in at least 12 states throughout America. LensCrafters, Sephora, and Ulta were the most targeted stores, with the latter having been robbed at up to 231 different locations.
In addition to spanning across several states, Mack’s operation impacted at least 21 separate counties in the state of California.
Mack’s garage at her house—which is now listed for sale, according to neighbors—was described as a “mini store” by police, who found various products and hundreds of envelopes filled and postmarked to ship stolen items to customers.
Upon filing the charges, Bonta explained that the “multimillion-dollar” operation was a “criminal scheme” and not just “garden-variety shoplifting.” A total of 140 felony charges related to conspiracy to commit organized retail theft and receipt of stolen property have been brought against Mack and her husband as well as seven other alleged players.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty.
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