4 Sentenced In $7.4K Theft From Ulta Beauty In Lake Grove: SCDA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Four people were sentenced Wednesday in connection with stealing more than $7,000 worth of fragrances from Ulta Beauty at Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove in April 2022, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced.

Ulta Beauty stores in Suffolk County and across the tri-state area were stolen from several times in early 2022, the DA said. Suffolk police used surveillance at multiple Ulta stores to find who was stealing, officials said.

Police assigned to the DA's squad were surveilling Ulta Beauty in Lake Grove when Elijah Webber, 20, of the Bronx; Omaiah Thompson, 25, of the Bronx; Keyshawn Middleton, 24, of the Bronx; and Emmanuel Huertas, 21, of the Bronx, stole approximately $7,430 worth of fragrances on April 1, 2022, investigators said.

Middleton, Webber and Huertas entered the store while Thompson was in the getaway car, a white Mercedes, authorities said. The three men stole fragrances from the store and got in the car, which Thompson then tried to drive away, prosecutors said.

Thompson intentionally hit an unmarked DA Squad vehicle as detectives were attempting to stop them, officials said. The four were arrested in the parking lot, the DA said.

"My office has made combatting organized retail theft a top priority," Tierney said. "Through our partnership with local and state law enforcement agencies, we have been able to catch many of those who have committed brazen and egregious retail thefts over the past year. My prosecutors followed these cases through to conclusion. In Suffolk County, you cannot steal other people’s property without consequences. We will continue to use every law enforcement tool at our disposal to see that these types of criminals are prosecuted and held responsible for their actions."

Thompson on Sept. 19 pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree attempted assault and one count of third-degree grand larceny. She was sentenced on Tuesday to 2 - and three-quarters to 5-and-a-half years in prison. She is also serving time for a conviction related to weapons charges in the Bronx. She was represented by Joseph Hanshe.

Huertas pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny on Aug. 25 and was sentenced on Jan. 13 to six months in the Suffolk County Jail and five years of probation. He was represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County.

Webber pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny on Oct. 13 and was sentenced on Nov. 16 to six months in the Suffolk County Jail and five years of probation. Lane Bubka represented Webber.

Middleton pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny on Aug. 17. He was sentenced on Jan. 12 to three months in Suffolk County Jail and a three-year of probation to run consecutive to a 1-year jail sentence he is currently serving in Manhattan. He was represented by Christopher Cassar.