(WWJ) A Detroit woman is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to leading a high-volume theft ring that targeted Ulta Beauty stores across Southeast Michigan.
Cheaira Broughton, 38, pleaded guilty on March 12 to Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a major felony involving the coordination of retail fraud across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Broughton organized more than 13 "push-out" thefts during October and November of 2023.
During these incidents, a small group would enter stores, grab as much high-value merchandise as they could carry, and then walk or run outside to a waiting getaway car.
The stolen goods, totaling more than $30,000 in value, were then sold by Broughton on Facebook Marketplace, Nessel said.
The conviction follows a massive investigation by the state’s FORCE Team, which involves cooperation from corporate investigators and police departments in Grosse Pointe, Novi, Canton, Troy, Allen Park, and Birmingham, as well as Michigan State Police.
“When dismantling theft rings, we must investigate and prosecute organizers behind the scenes who profit from these crimes, and I am proud of my FORCE Team and our retail partners and law enforcement officers who helped stop this enterprise in its tracks and secure this conviction," said Nessel, in a statement. "We remain committed to ensuring that those who lead these dangerous operations face the full weight of the law.”
Broughton, who was originally charged in late 2025, is scheduled to be sentenced in 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County on April 17.
The AG's office says the FORCE (Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement) Team is dedicated to working collaboratively with retailers and local law enforcement agencies to combat organized retail crime. Recent corporate partners on investigations have included Sam’s Club/Walmart, Meijer, Target, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Rite-Aid, Amazon, and Lowe’s.
