5 Sentenced In String Of Ulta Beauty Thefts: Suffolk DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Five people were sentenced for their roles in a string of thefts at Ulta Beauty stores in East Farmingdale, Commack, and Patchogue after they pleaded guilty, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Friday.

Tyjanea Weaver, Shamiqwa Dixon, Naikeya Terry, Devonte Jennings and Asia Leaphart each picked up varying sentences, Tierney said.

"These individuals operated together in groups and wreaked havoc on businesses across Suffolk County by taking things that did not belong to them," Tierney said in a news release. "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."

Dixon, Leaphart, Jennings, Terry and Weaver were seen leaving an Ulta Beauty store in East Farmingdale with more than $4,000 worth of fragrances they did not pay for on Nov. 19, 2021, officials said. The incident was captured on the store’s video surveillance system, authorities said.

On March 1, 2022, Dixon, Jennings and Terry entered Ulta Beauty in North Patchogue, loaded approximately $2,700 worth of fragrances into bags, and left without paying, prosecutors said. The incident was caught on the store’s security camera, investigators said.

Leaphart and Cecil McHugh were seen by plain-clothed Suffolk police detectives on May 7, 2022, stealing nearly $4,000 worth of perfume and cologne at the Ulta Beauty store in East Farmingdale, officials said. 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, authorities said. Leaphart ignored them and backed her car into an unmarked police car behind her, causing one of the detectives to suffer neck, back and leg injuries, prosecutors said.

Leaphart then sped 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, investigators said.

Leaphart's Nissan Altima was found parked and unoccupied in Wyandanch, officials said. She was later arrested on May 15, 2022, authorities said.

Jennings, 24, of Wyandanch, pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny on Sept. 27, 2022, and was sentenced to one year in jail.

Terry, 41, of Wyandanch, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny on Oct. 17, 2022. She was sentenced to one year in jail on Feb. 16, 2023.

Leaphart, 26, of Deer Park, on Dec. 7, 2022, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted assault and third-degree grand larceny. She was sentenced to one year in jail on March 31.

Dixon, 28, of Coram, pleaded guilty on Feb. 17 to third-degree grand larceny. She was sentenced to 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison on April 14.

Weaver, 23, of Wyandanch, pleaded guilty on Jan. 17 to petty larceny and was placed on probation, as her case is still pending.

McHugh, 29, of Amityville, was indicted on a charge of third-degree grand larceny, officials said. His case is still pending.