7 Hartford Women Indicted In Victoria's Secret Fraud Scheme

HARTFORD, CT — Seven Hartford women have been indicted on accusations that they participated in a theft scheme at Victoria's Secret stores, according to a statement from federal prosecutors.

The following women were charged with conspiracy and fraud-related crimes: Debran Moore, aka Debran Chanel, 21, Shamonique Mackey, 21, Daijah Fagan, 20, Tamijah Hunter, 21, Sharnice Jackson, 19, Leonna Jones, 21, and Imani Aitcheson, 21.

Each defendant was released on a $100,000 bond.

According to prosecutors:

Beginning as early as February 2019 and continuing to October 2019, the women are accused of devising a scheme through which they stole thousands of dollars from L Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret stores.

As part of the scheme, they shoplifted merchandise from Victoria’s Secret stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts. They then returned the shoplifted merchandise through a “No Original Receipt” return in exchange for gift cards in the value of the stolen merchandise.

They then redeemed the gift cards at Victoria’s Secret stores for merchandise that slightly exceeded the value of the gift card, so that the excess amount was charged to a debit card connected to a co-conspirator.

They then returned this merchandise purchased and were refunded for the entire amount credited to the co-conspirator’s debit card.

It is alleged that the loss to L Brands from this scheme exceeds $100,000.

The indictment charges each defendant with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of wire fraud. Both charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.