Demetrius Owens, Wire Fraud, Missouri 2021

A brazen spree of break-ins left a trail of shattered beauty supplies and empty store shelves in its wake. Demetrius Owens, 20, and his accomplice Ryan Jones stole a staggering $141,000 worth of beauty products from six Missouri Ulta Beauty stores between November 19, 2020, and January 25, 2021.

The pair struck stores in Brentwood, Columbia, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Fenton, and Washington, making off with large quantities of perfume, men’s fragrances, and other beauty supplies. They then sold these stolen items on the black market.

Owens pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge in May and admitted to his role in the thefts. A co-defendant, Ryan Jones, 38, is currently incarcerated in California on another charge. Another accomplice, Leo Finerson Jr., 37, of St. Ann, was sentenced in May to 120 days behind bars after pleading guilty to a charge of misprision of a felony.

Finerson had posted some of the stolen items for sale on Facebook before removing the post to conceal the crime. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and several local police departments investigated the case, including the St. Louis County, Brentwood, Chesterfield, Columbia, Washington, St. Louis Metropolitan, and Fairview Heights, Illinois, police departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware prosecuted the case. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced Owens to one year in prison and ordered him to pay $141,611 in restitution. The recommended sentencing guideline for the crime was 12 to 18 months in prison.

Owens’ sentence is a stark reminder of the consequences of committing crimes that target local businesses and communities. The people of Missouri can rest a little easier knowing that justice has been served.

Demetrius Owens

Defendant’s Real Full Name: Demetrius Owens

Exact Criminal Charges: Wire fraud

City and State: St. Louis, MO

Exact Date: Wednesday, (no specific date mentioned)

Sentence or Outcome: 1 year in prison and ordered to pay $141,611 in restitution

Dollar Amounts: $141,000, $141,611

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