The owner of a Central Massachusetts video store was arrested this past weekend, accused of using his business as a front for a retail organized crime operation where he bought thousands of items stolen from local stores and resold them online.
Police began their investigation into the alleged retail crime ring 15 months ago, which started following a traffic stop.
In February 2020, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Joseph Hall conducted a motor vehicle stop in Leominster. During the traffic stop, he determined one of the vehicle’s occupants had outstanding warrants. She was taken into custody while the remaining occupants in the vehicle were sent on their way.
A short time later, state police say, that same vehicle was involved in a shoplifting incident at the Home Depot in Leominster.
Police say the boyfriend of the woman taken into custody went to Home Depot and stole cordless drill batteries. Those batteries were then taken to Adopt A Video in Leominster where he was given cash which he intended to use for bail.
After the man was placed under arrest on five outstanding warrants and shared details of the alleged crime ring, state and local police formed a task force to investigate retail operations at Adopt A Video. Members of the task force include Hall, Massachusetts Crime Analyst Carol Fitzgerald, Leominster Police Detectives Richard Shea and John Bouchard as well as several loss prevention officers working at local retail stores.
Over a six-month period, police say they identified numerous “boosters” — people involved in stealing items from retail stores including CVS, Target and Home Depot — selling stolen goods at the Worcester County video store.
More than two dozen “boosters” were determined to be involved in the organized retail crime ring, police say.
Then, police became involved. Under the pretense items were stolen from local retailers, items were sold to the video shop in an undercover operation and then observed them listed for sale in eBay and Amazon stores owned and operated by John F. Duplease Jr., owner of Adopt A Video, police say.
On Saturday, 15 months after the investigation began, police placed Duplease and an employee of Adopt A Video under arrest. Search warrants were executed on his retail shop and home in Lancaster. A total of 1,695 stolen items were seized at the video store, and 4,609 items were found at his the Lancaster residence. Among the items was a Ten Point crossbow confirmed to be stolen from Cabela’s in Berlin, police say.
Police also seized 27 firearms from the home, $15,000 in cash and four vehicles: a Tesla, Jeep, Chevy Camaro and Chevy Silverado.
Authorities estimate the value of stolen merchandise recovered between $200,000 and $300,000. They allege the 66-year-old made over $1 million from the sale of stolen merchandise over the past three years.
Duplease was arrested on the charges of aggravated organized retail crime over $10,000, being the leader of an organized retail crime ring, receiving stolen property totaling over $1,200 in value and improper storage of a firearm.
His bail was originally set at $10,000 cash but it appears it was later reduced to $2,500 cash, records show. Duplease is scheduled to appear in Leominster District Court again on July 7.
Penny Williams, 41, of Fitchburg, was arraigned in Leominster District Court Monday on charges of aggravated organized retail crime over $10,000 and receiving stolen property over $1,200. Her bail was set at $2,500 and she returns to court on July 7.
“Ms. Williams has been observed via Pole Camera Surveillance to be actively receiving and paying for stolen merchandise while working at Adopt A Video,” investigators said. “She has also been observed preparing packages containing stolen merchandise for shipping via the United States Postal Service.”
Adopt A Video received the attention of city officials about the sale of adult novelties and sex toys in 2009, according to the Sentinel & Enterprise.
The newspaper reported at the time that people had complained to a city councilor about those sales and wanted to make sure Duplease was following zoning laws.
During the video rental store heyday, Adopt A Video had stores in Clinton and Leominster.