This AirPod theft scam spanned Walmart and Target locations in 21 states. Now the retail chains are banding together
Two women just got sentenced to 10 years in prison after running a multi-state theft ring that hit Walmart and Target stores across the country.
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Altogether, they stole $141,000 worth of merchandise through a multi-state scheme that kept them under the radar from 2022 until their arrest in 2024, prosecutors said.
Both women pleaded guilty to three counts of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
What the crime involved
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The scheme was run by two women from New York—Ebony Fallon Washington, 43 (also known as Stephanie Harris), and Melissa Holland, 46 (also known as Keisha Wilson).
Their method involved shopping in Walmart or Target, paying cash for a pair of AirPods, opening the packaging using tools so it still looked untouched, then replacing the real AirPods with a fake version. After that, they’d return the box for a full cash refund—and keep the real product to resell elsewhere.
They repeated this process over and over, across multiple states, racking up 187 thefts and walking away with more than $140,000 worth of goods.
How they got apprehended
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The thefts happened in stores across 21 states, including 32 different locations in Georgia alone. That list includes places like Acworth, Buford, Columbus, Kennesaw, Macon, and Woodstock.
Back in 2024, Walmart and Target decided to investigate the thefts together, combining forces with the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Gang and Organized Crime Unit, which led to the women’s arrest on September 13, 2024.
A search of their rental car turned up a lot: tools used to open the packages, hotel receipts from towns near targeted stores, and five phones filled with even more evidence.
What people are saying
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Under a FOX 5 Atlanta Facebook post about the case, commenters didn’t have much sympathy.
“Good—give ’em life because they created a lot of issues for many people,” one person wrote.
“They thought that was so smart didn’t they? Thanks to the officers for the arrest,” said another.
“It’s never a matter of if you’ll get caught, but when,” offered a third. “Definitely not worth it.”
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Walmart employee looked for her daughter for hours before finding her ‘charred remains’ in the store’s walk-in bakery oven
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October 25, 2024, 11:35 AM ET
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The 19-year-old found death in a Walmart bakery’s walk-in oven has been identified, per a GoFundMe page.Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
The 19-year-old Walmart employee who was found dead inside a Canada store bakery’s walk-in oven has been identified as Gursimran Kaur, according to a GoFundMe page created by a member of the Maritime Sikh Society in Halifax.
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Nearly $140,000 in donations pours in for family of teen found dead in Walmart oven
Alex Lang
Oct 28, 2024
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A GoFundMe for the teen killed in a Walmart oven has raised nearly $140,000 to support her family.
The fundraiser was launched after Gursimran Kaur, 19, died inside a Canadian Walmart on October 19.
“Gursimran and her mother both worked at Walmart for the last two years. In that evening, like any watchful mother who breathed for her child’s happiness, Gursimran’s mother tried to locate her after not seeing for one hour. She asked around, but everyone brushed aside thinking that she may be somewhere helping a customer, Walmart is a superstore after all! Her phone was not reachable,” the page read.
“Mother started panicking as it was unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day. She reached out to the onsite admin for help. As you all know now, her remains were found inside the walk in oven in the Bakery after a few hours.”
The tragic incident led to an outpouring of support and a GoFundMe has raised more than $194,000 CAN. That translates to roughly $140,000 in US dollars.
The fundraiser has been closed but it’s unclear why.
“This family’s sufferings are unimaginable and indescribable. They need your support to get through this horrific time,” the GoFundMe read.
Authorities earlier this week described the investigation as “complex” and said “an investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time.”
“Please be aware of the impacts that speculation could have on family, colleagues and loved ones of the woman,” police added, urging people to be mindful of sharing speculative information on social media.”
Police in Canada continue to investigate Kaur’s death.
Walmart also released a statement after her death saying they were working to support store staff.
“Our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family,” Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss said.
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Three rescued from vehicles stuck in floodwater
Three people have been rescued from vehicles stuck in floodwater after heavy rain left some roads impassable.
Firefighters in Dorset rescued the driver of a van stranded at Hammoon, near Sturminster Newton, shortly after 11:00 GMT on Wednesday where water from the River Stour had submerged the road.
Crews also came to the rescue of three people stuck in a car at Boys Hill Drove, Holnest, shortly before 14:00.
One person managed to walk to safety while the others were rescued by wading teams.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews from three stations and a technical rescue team from Poole were called to help the van driver, who was help to safety using a sled.
In a Facebook post, the service said: “Luckily, we were able to rescue the people trapped and they are all now safe and well.
“The water was powerful enough to move the large vehicle… which demonstrates just how powerful and dangerous moving floodwater can be.
“If you are travelling in unfamiliar areas and come across flooded roads, please do not put yourself at risk by attempting to drive through it.
“Turn around and find an alternative route.”
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Ron Funches Explores Autism Diagnosis After Reflecting on His Behavior in ‘The Traitors’
The Traitorsseason 4 star Ron Funches says he’s in the process of exploring whether or not he may have autism after watching himself on the show. The 42-year-old comedian, who is an outspoken autism advocate and the father of a son with autism named Malcolm, took to Threads on Jan. 21 to talk about his suspicions after seeing himself on the show.
Related: ‘The Traitors’ Fans Have an Interesting Theory About Donna Kelce’s Role on the Show
“I honestly didn’t know I, myself, had Autism. I thought I was just an ally and parent of an autistic child,” he wrote in response to a fan’s post talking about how they don’t like the way he’s being treated.
The Undateable star said he “start[ed] the process of going to get a diagnosis” after seeing how the other reality stars didn’t “comprehend or understand” him when he “thought he was being direct.” He was also surprised by “some of [his] own mannerisms,” and realized he “can be extremely unaware of obvious things.”
He added that he “won’t be comfortable calling [himself] autistic until [his] diagnosis is done,” but he would not be bothered to get that diagnosis. “If the end result from me being isolated and feeling misunderstood on The Traitors is that I understand myself and my son more, I consider that a victory worth sharing,” he said in a separate post.
The comedian found himself in the crosshairs of the Faithfuls at several roundtables after being wrong about Porsha Williams being a Traitor, but many viewers felt that the other competitors’ treatment of him crossed the boundary of typical gameplay into bullying territory.
Funches seemed to agree, joking in a different post that he would like to “try” playing Traitors U.K., which fans consider “much nicer.” Even on the show, he mentioned he felt isolated, and clapped back at people saying he wasn’t being friendly enough by saying, “I’ve never been a person to beg for approval. I don’t need it. I go where I’m wanted. I go where I’m loved.”
Funches speaks often about his son Malcolm, who has autism. He celebrated Autism Awareness Day in 2022 on Instagram, writing, “Thank you to my son who brought autism awareness into my life, and continually teaches me so much every day.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
