Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced that Asia Leaphart, 26, of Deer Park; Shamiqwa Dixon, 28, of Coram; Devonte Jennings, 24, of Wyandanch; Tyjanea Weaver, 23, of Wyandanch; and Naikeya Terry, 41, of Wyandanch have all pleaded guilty and been sentenced for their roles in a string of retail thefts at Ulta Beauty stores in East Farmingdale, Commack, and Patchogue in 2021 and 2022.
“These individuals operated together in groups and wreaked havoc on businesses across Suffolk County by taking things that did not belong to them,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who commit these quality-of-life crimes that threaten the livelihood of our residents and businesses. In Suffolk County there are consequences for stealing other people’s property. You will go to jail.”
On November 19, 2021, DIXON, LEAPHART, JENNINGS, TERRY and WEAVER, were observed exiting an Ulta Beauty store in East Farmingdale with over $4,000 worth of fragrances that they did not pay for. The incident was captured on the store’s video surveillance system.
On March 1, 2022, DIXON, JENNINGS, and TERRY entered an Ulta Beauty store in North Patchogue, loaded approximately $2,700 worth of fragrances into bags, and left the store without paying. The incident was caught on the store’s security camera.
On May 7, 2022, LEAPHART and CECIL MCHUGH, were allegedly observed by Suffolk County Police Department plain clothes detectives stealing nearly $4,000 worth of perfume and cologne at the Ulta Beauty store in East Farmingdale. While attempting to apprehend the pair, the detectives used two vehicles to block LEAPHART’s 2013 black Nissan Altima so she could not leave the parking lot and ordered her to stop. LEAPHART ignored their commands and reversed her vehicle into an unmarked police car behind her, causing one of the detectives to sustain neck, back and leg injuries. LEAPHART then accelerated at a high rate of speed toward the other unmarked police car parked in front of her, plowed into the driver’s side of the car, and then recklessly drove out of the parking lot. LEAPHART’s Nissan Altima was subsequently located parked and unoccupied in Wyandanch. She was later arrested on May 15, 2022.
In total, the group stole approximately $10,700 worth of fragrances. The incidents were all captured on the three store’s video surveillance system. Jennings, Terry and Leaphart were sentenced to one year in jail. Dixon was sentenced to 1.5 to 3 years in jail while Weaver was placed on probation with her case still pending.
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