How 2 Women Stole $141K From Target^® Using Boxes of Lies

Two women from New York pulled off an audacious theft operation that lasted more than two years, spanned 21 states, and siphoned nearly $141,000 from big-box giants Target^® and Walmart^®. At the center of the scheme? A pair of AirPods^®, some sleight of hand, and an elaborate plan that finally unraveled thanks to the persistence of retail investigators.

A Scheme Built on Sleight and Return

From June 2022 to August 2024, Ebony Fallon Washington, 43, and Melissa Holland, 46, traveled across the country targeting retail locations with one surprisingly simple technique.

They used cash to buy Apple AirPods from Walmart and Target stores, removed the real devices from the boxes, resealed the packaging, inserted cheap fakes, and returned them for full refunds.

With their refunded cash in hand, the women bought more genuine AirPods — some of which were resold for profit, others used to repeat the scam. This self-sustaining loop allowed them to operate under the radar for months at a time, returning to stores they had already hit and racking up 187 confirmed incidents across the U.S.

The scheme wasn't just petty theft — it was organized, rehearsed, and methodical. Authorities say Washington and Holland functioned like a miniature criminal enterprise, using hotel stays, burner phones, and specialized tools to fuel their operation, according to Lanier County News.

How They Got Caught

The scam might have continued if not for a key collaboration between Walmart and Target's loss prevention teams. In May 2024, both retail giants realized they were chasing similar suspects. Walmart's investigators looped in Georgia's Gang and Organized Crime Unit, and together they pieced together a pattern of returns that led directly back to Washington and Holland.

Their arrests came a few months later, in September 2024, during a traffic stop in Coweta County, Georgia. Officers discovered hotel receipts, five mobile phones loaded with evidence, and tools specifically designed to open Apple packaging without leaving a trace.

Authorities said both women had stayed near stores they later hit and used multiple phones to avoid detection.

Legal Fallout and Sentencing

Prosecutors charged Washington and Holland under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, citing the size, scope, and planning involved. Both women pleaded guilty — Washington in March and Holland in May.

Each received a 20-year sentence, 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation. They were ordered to pay $134,951.86 in restitution, reflecting the unrecovered value of stolen items. As part of their probation, the women are barred from Walmart, Target, and even from contacting each other. They were also banished from Cherokee County and must complete 320 hours of community service.

Investigators emphasized the importance of using RICO laws to hold individuals accountable when crimes cross jurisdictions.

Bigger Than Two People?

Though the women acted alone in these thefts, the scale and sophistication of the operation raises questions. Was someone buying the stolen AirPods in bulk? Were the returns always made in person, or was there online fraud involved too?

Authorities haven't named any accomplices, but the use of tools, coordination across states, and volume of theft suggest this may not be a one-off incident. Georgia officials have warned that organized retail crime is a growing problem, one increasingly linked to larger fraud networks.

The rise of schemes like this one reveals how vulnerable even major chains are to low-tech, high-effort fraud. If you've ever been asked to show ID for a return or noticed tighter return policies, this is one reason why.

References: THIEVES IN A POD: Two Target shoppers caught stealing $141k worth of items with sick 'package' trick – they got away with it in 21 states | 2 sentenced for stealing nearly $141K in AirPods, removing them from boxes, then returning for cash | Two Women Sentenced in $141K Multi-State Retail Theft Scheme Tied to Georgia — With South Georgia Arrest