BONSALL, CA – A California woman is facing allegations of leading a nationwide shoplifting ring that pilfered millions of dollars in merchandise from numerous retail stores over a span of more than ten years, as per the California Department of Justice.
The complaint lodged by California Attorney General Rob Bonta revealed that Michelle Mack, 53, and her husband Kenneth Mack were found with over $300,000 worth of stolen makeup and other items in their Bonsall residence during a search warrant execution on December 6, 2023.
Mack is suspected of financing travel and accommodation expenses for a group of women who would steal merchandise and ship them to Mack’s residence. She would then allegedly resell these stolen items at a discounted price on her Amazon Marketplace storefront.
The group, dubbed by investigators as the “California Girls,” carried out their operations in numerous states across the country. They targeted a variety of outlets, including LensCrafters, Sephora, and at least 231 Ulta stores.
Inside Mack’s garage, authorities discovered what they described as a “mini store,” filled with beauty products, sunglasses, and designer bags. Hundreds of postmarked envelopes filled with stolen goods, ready for dispatch to customers, were also found.
Mack, her husband, and seven other alleged accomplices face 140 felony charges, including conspiracy to commit organized retail theft, grand theft, and receipt of stolen property. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
“This is a multimillion-dollar criminal scheme. It was complex. It was orchestrated,” Bonta stated in a February press release announcing the charges. He added that while the current losses are estimated at nearly $8 million, the investigation is ongoing and the total loss might surpass this figure.
Mack’s group is said to have regularly targeted a range of retailers, including Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Prada, Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, Luxottica’s Sunglass Hut, and LensCrafters.