Michelle Mack: San Diego mom accused of running $8M shoplifting ring of 12 women called 'California Girls'
CALIFORNIA: Michelle Mack, a wealthy California mother, stands accused of orchestrating a sophisticated nationwide shoplifting operation that pilfered millions of dollars' worth of makeup and clothing from numerous stores spanning more than ten years.
Operating under the moniker 'California Girls', Mack allegedly funded airfare, accommodations, and rental cars for up to twelve operatives who would dispatch stolen merchandise to her Bonsall residence. The goods were then reportedly sold at discounted prices through a front company on Amazon Marketplace.
Inside Michelle Mack's nationwide shoplifting ring
Authorities discovered a 'mini-store' of stolen merchandise worth $350,000 during a predawn raid on Mack's $3 million home, raising concerns that the total losses inflicted upon retailers could exceed $8 million. "If you try to make an easy buck off of other people's hard work, we will arrest you and prosecute you," declared California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Investigators dedicated over two years to dismantling the group known as the 'California Girls', operating across numerous states from coast to coast. Their targets included LensCrafters, Sephora, and a minimum of 231 Ulta stores. The gang's modus operandi involved clearing entire shelves of merchandise, which they concealed in Louis Vuitton bags.
Informants expose crime ring of 'California Girls'
The elaborate scheme began to unravel when two shoplifters were apprehended in an Ulta store on the East Coast, one of whom disclosed working for a woman in California who supplied a list of targeted stores and offered prices for stolen items. A subsequent investigation uncovered Mack's involvement, including her operation of an Amazon storefront called Online Makeup Store, which boasted over 300 items at nearly 50% off retail prices.
"The items listed for sale were nearly 50 percent off the actual retail price, which was included in the sales listing," a search warrant explained. "This steep discount suggested the items were being fenced," per Daily Mail.
Fallout of Michelle Mack's alleged criminal enterprise
Following a raid on her San Diego County mansion, law enforcement filed 140 charges against Mack, her husband Kenneth Mack, and seven alleged accomplices, including 136 felony counts of grand theft, two counts of receiving stolen property, one count of conspiracy, and one count of organized retail crime. Mack's house, featuring luxurious amenities and a 31-acre vineyard, is now listed for sale at $2.75 million.
The National Retail Federation estimates that organized retail crime cost retailers $40.5 billion in losses in 2022. Authorities stated as the investigation continues, the impact of Mack's operation may prove to be even more extensive.
