Two individuals pleaded not guilty to charges related to running an organized theft ring and stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Ulta Beauty in Wareham, according to Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.
Amalia Cinca, 35, of Maryland, and a 17-year-old female were arrested Tuesday evening by authorities at JFK International Airport in New York, as they attempted to board a flight to Romania, according to the Cruz and Wareham Police Chief Walter Correia, Jr.
Cinca is being held on a $75,000 cash bail after she was arraigned in Wareham District Court where she pleaded not guilty to charges of Larceny over $1,200 and organized retail crime, according to Cruz. The 17-year-old female was arraigned in Brockton District Juvenile Court and pleaded not guilty to the same charges. She is now being held on a $100,000 bail.
Wareham Police responded on Sunday, Jan. 7 to the Ulta store in Wareham for a report of a past shoplifting incident. According to the police, a store employee reported they observed three females stuff approximately five bags worth of merchandise and exit the store without payment. It was determined that in total, the three women stole $5,818 in products.
On Monday, Jan. 8, Waterford, Connecticut Police contacted Wareham Police to report a theft at the Ulta store there, allegedly involving four female suspects. The maroon minivan they had been traveling in was impounded, and merchandise inside the minivan was identified as being from the Wareham Ulta store, according to Cruz.
As a result of the investigation, which included use of surveillance video inside the store, Wareham Police sought and obtained criminal complaints charging Cinca and the juvenile female with one count each of Larceny Over $1,200 and Organized Retail Crime.
The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office entered the complaints into National Crime Information Center, and arrest warrants issued.
Cinca and the juvenile were arrested on the warrants at JFK International Airport in New York Tuesday evening, Jan. 23. Cinca was arraigned Wednesday, Jan. 24 in Queens, New York Criminal Court where she pleaded not guilty to a charge of Fugitive from Justice. She waived her rendition and will now begin the process of being returned to Massachusetts where she will face larceny charges in Wareham District Court. The juvenile is facing charges in New York.
The arrests follow upon the Thursday, Jan. 18 announcement of the formation of the Plymouth County Organized Retail Theft Task Force, an initiative announced by District Attorney Cruz intended to work with retailers, Chambers of Commerce, law enforcement and others to address the issue of retail theft.
