Phoenix Police bust 'Makeup Mafia' trio

Tom Scanlon, East Valley Tribune (Mesa, Ariz.)
·2 min read
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Apr. 28—They are not likely to go down in history alongside the James-Younger Gang, the Hole in the Wall Gang and other infamous gangsters.

Even so, what might be called "The Makeup Mafia" has its moment in the spotlight Thursday, April 18.

The Phoenix Police Department and Maricopa County Attorney's Office co-hosted a news conference trumpeting a takedown of a nonviolent gang dealing in hot makeup.

By "hot," Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell weren't talking trendy makeovers — they were talking pilfered powder, boosted blush, purloined perfume and other cribbed cosmetics.

The acting police chief and county attorney announced the arrests of three Phoenix women: Alejandra Reyes-Torres, 49; Guadalupe Gamez-Moreno, 35; and Jennifer Zazueta-Reyes, 22.

The trio was indicted on charges of running an illicit enterprise and trafficking stolen property.

Mitchell said the trio sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of misappropriated makeup online — and from their homes.

The three face charges including theft, trafficking and racketeering.

An unnamed shoplifter caught red-handed six months ago flipped to cops, telling them she was stealing high-end makeup specifically to be resold to the three ladies.

The three "operated unregistered businesses out of their West Valley homes, selling the makeup through online sales platforms, in person — and even by shipping the cosmetics internationally," Mitchell said.

The county attorney said the three gave "shopping lists" — shoplifting lists, really — to thieves, who hit Ulta, Target and other retailers for perfume, lipstick and other cosmetics.

While some might shrug off the rogue rouge-raiders, Mitchell stressed everyone pays for theft, which results in higher prices.

"My hope is that this sends a strong message that we are committed to investigating and arresting individuals of all crimes, and theft of this magnitude will not be tolerated," Sullivan added.

In total, 12 pallets of stolen merchandise, with an estimated value of $560,000, were recovered during an undercover operation by the Phoenix Police Crime Bureau in conjunction with MCAO's Organized Retail Crime Taskforce.

"We need to pay particular attention to this kind of crime — especially when it's at this scale — because it affects everyone's bottom line," Mitchell said.

"Retailers have to offset their losses which can mean those of us who are law-abiding citizens pay higher prices."