Four women charged in alleged shoplifting conspiracy at outlet mall

Written by Lisa Roose-Church DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Four women who allegedly conspired to steal about $2,300 in merchandise from various stores at the Howell Township mall are behind bars in Livingston County.

Charged with first-degree retail fraud are Danielle Darneisha Goree and Marijo Williams, both of Grand Rapids, and Charlotte, N.C., resident Imon Ashantice Swanigan, whose name also is spelled Swanigen by authorities. The women also are charged with conspiracy to commit retail fraud and receiving and concealing stolen property valued at less than $20,000.

A fourth woman has been identified only as Jane Doe of Grand Rapids, because she has provided multiple fake names to police.

The women return to Livingston County District Court today for an exam conference.

The women were caught around 7:45 p.m. Sept. 22 when an employee at the Polo store at the Tanger Outlet Center at Kensington Valley at 1475 N. Burkhart Road called 911 to report that four females and four males were in her store and that she later saw the four women remove the license plate from a Chevrolet Impala.

Sheriff Bob Bezotte said a deputy observed the women get into the car, which he confirmed did not have a license plate, and drive toward the Gap store.

The officer kept his eye on the suspects' vehicle, stopping it when the driver exited the mall parking lot on Burkhart Road. At that point, Bezotte said, the vehicle license plate was back on the car.

"The deputy could see in the back of the car, and they had clothing with tags on them," the sheriff explained.

Bezotte said the driver, identified as Williams, admitted that the foursome intentionally came to Livingston County to steal from the mall. She allegedly admitted that she removed the license plate so no one could report it, the sheriff said.

Bezotte said Swanigan and Goree both initially told police that their name was Chavon Hill and that they were 16.

Police are working to verify the identify of the suspect who was arraigned as Jane Doe.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed stolen children's clothing from Osh Kosh B'Gosh as well as shoes from Coach and clasps from Home Depot in Genoa Township. Other items found included numerous circuit breakers, wire, wall switch-plate covers, numerous bottles of shower gel, fragrance mist, moisture cream and body cream from Bath and Body Works, and a shirt from Under Armour.

Goree and Swanigan remain jailed on a $50,000 bond while Williams' bond is $25,000. Doe's bond was set at $250,000.