The California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and federal law enforcement agencies announced the arrest and filing of charges against the ringleader of an organized retail crime operation on Friday.
The charges include Organized Retail Theft, Conspiracy, Receipt of Stolen Property, and multiple counts of Grand Theft.
The thefts occurred in 21 counties across California, including Placer and Sacramento, and involved about $8 million in stolen beauty products.
The ringleader paid people to steal products from Ulta Beauty and other cosmetics stores, then sold the stolen items on Amazon.
The investigation was a collaborative effort by the California Department of Justice (DOJ), CHP, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Ulta's Loss Prevention Organized Retail Crime team, and Sephora representatives.Â
CHP asks that if you witness a crime occurring, do not intervene, and instead call 9-1-1.Â
(The California Highway Patrol assisted with this report.)
