A couple from Connecticut, Jadion Anthony Richards, 44, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, 45, are facing charges for their alleged involvement in a complex retail theft operation that targeted the popular apparel company Lululemon, resulting in approximately $1 million worth of stolen items. The couple was arrested on November 14 in Woodbury, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has charged Richards and Lawes-Richards with organized retail theft, a felony offense. The couple, originally from Danbury, Connecticut, are accused of orchestrating a sophisticated theft scheme that impacted Lululemon stores in multiple states, including Minnesota.
Thanks to the diligent work of the Roseville Police investigators and other law enforcement agencies, the individuals involved in this significant retail theft operation have been apprehended, according to a statement from the attorney’s office. The authorities are committed to holding the defendants accountable and collaborating with retail merchants to combat retail theft in the community.
Richards and Lawes-Richards have posted bail and agreed to the terms of a court-ordered conditional release. The court set bail at $100,000 with conditional release or $600,000 with unconditional release for Richards, and $30,000 with conditional release or $200,000 with unconditional release for Lawes-Richards. The couple is scheduled to appear in court on December 16.
The couple’s arrest followed an incident where they triggered store alarms while leaving a Lululemon store in Roseville, Minnesota. An organized retail crime investigator identified them and reported that they were experienced shoplifters responsible for significant losses to the store. The couple used tactics like distracting store employees and making fraudulent returns with stolen items to carry out their thefts successfully.
Authorities documented multiple theft incidents involving Richards and Lawes-Richards, along with an unidentified woman in Colorado. The group utilized organized retail crime tactics to steal merchandise, including blocking and distracting store associates, concealing items, and removing security sensors. The extent of the theft was estimated to be as high as $1 million.
CBS News reached out to Lululemon for comment but did not receive an immediate response. The couple’s elaborate retail theft operation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by retailers in combating organized crime activities that result in substantial financial losses. Retailers must remain vigilant and implement robust security measures to prevent such theft schemes from occurring in the future.
