A photo of David Gama during a shoplifting incident at an Ulta Beauty store. (Courtesy King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office)
King County prosecutors have filed felony charges in an organized retail theft case involving repeated shoplifting incidents at Ulta Beauty stores across the region. The case centers on a King County resident accused of stealing merchandise from multiple locations over a period of nearly two months, prompting a coordinated investigation by law enforcement.
According to court filings, prosecutors charged the individual with three counts of first-degree organized retail theft following an investigation that documented 24 reported incidents between November 2025 and early January 2026. The alleged thefts occurred at Ulta stores in north Seattle, West Seattle, Tukwila, and Federal Way. Investigators estimate the total value of stolen merchandise at $18,426.80, with approximately $1,678.80 recovered at the time of arrest. A store manager also reported significant losses in fragrance products during the same period.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office noted that most shoplifting cases are classified as misdemeanors and are typically handled at the city level. Cases are referred for felony prosecution when evidence supports allegations of organized retail theft.
Prosecutors also pointed to broader trends in property and economic crime. In 2024, the office charged 506 cases where the most serious offense involved property or economic crime, up from 367 cases in 2023. In the most recent year reported, that number increased to 640 cases, marking the highest level since 2019.
For WR members, the case underscores ongoing challenges related to retail theft and the role of coordinated enforcement in addressing organized activity.
