Source: @CookSheriffIL / x
The sneaker reselling game definitely isn’t what it used to be, but that’s not keeping people from continuing to flip somewhat sought after merchandise, even if it means running afoul of the law.
Unfortunately, for one particular hustler and his right-hand man, authorities caught on to their operation and now the two men are facing some serious consequences.
According to WGN TV, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office of Maywood, Ill., uncovered a retail theft operation led by Flee Club owner Darris Kelly and his employee Jerry Walker, which they say led to authorities recovering $2.4 million worth of stolen sneakers, designer clothes and even some guns. Amongst the stolen merchandise were numerous pairs of the unreleased Air Jordan 4 “Paris Olympics” (which aren’t going for much on the resale market as no one’s really checking for these), the Louis Vuitton x Air Force 1s, and some other Air Jordan 11s that were sure to brick.
Still, a buck’s a buck. Unfortunately, for Kelly and Walker, the jig is up.
WGN TV reports:
The Sheriff’s Office says sheriff’s police executed a search warrant at a store in the 2200 block of West Taylor Street on Chicago’s Near West Side. According to authorities, employees of the store purchased stolen items and resold them to customers.
Dart explained Thursday how authorities set up the bust.
“This was, as they say, an undercover operation where we were sending people in to sell things that we told them was stolen,” he said. “We would then go back in with a different undercover officer and buy the stolen stuff we had just sold them.
“So we were recovering the stuff that everyone knew was stolen. We were getting tips from the people that operated (the theft operation) — the two people charged — on what they wanted us to steal, and they directed us in that way, as well.”
If Kelly and Walker are maintaining their innocence in the operation, that can only mean they’ll be flipping on someone else sooner or later and with the investigation still active, don’t be surprised if they start naming names.
The news comes almost a year after thieves crashed an SUV into Chicago’s Flee Club and made off with $100,000 worth of exclusive merchandise. Maybe Darris Kelly wanted to recoup what he had lost in that jux? Just sayin’, allegedly.
What do y’all think about this latest sneaker bust? Let us know in the comments section below.