Seattle, WA – A King County man, David Joseph Gama, has been charged with multiple felony counts of organized retail theft after allegedly shoplifting from Ulta Beauty stores across the Seattle region over nearly two months. Authorities say the case involved repeated thefts totaling more than $18,400 in merchandise.
Alleged Theft Spree
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the thefts occurred between November 10, 2025, and January 4, 2026, and included 24 reported incidents at multiple Ulta Beauty locations. Court documents indicate Gama stole from:
- 15 incidents at the Aurora Avenue North store
- 5 incidents at the West Seattle store
- 1 incident at the Tukwila store
- 1 incident at the Federal Way store
Investigators estimate the total value of stolen merchandise at $18,426.80, while only $1,678.80 of items were recovered at the time of Gama’s arrest. One store manager said $25,000 to $30,000 worth of fragrance alone had been stolen during the spree.
“When you have evidence to show organized retail theft allegations in cases such as this one, a case is referred by police investigators as a felony referral,” the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said, noting that most shoplifting cases are typically handled as misdemeanors at the city level.
Criminal History and Arraignment
Gama, 50, has an extensive criminal record in Washington state, including 50 arrests since 1985, five felony convictions, 19 gross misdemeanor convictions, and 11 misdemeanor convictions. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday.
A defense motion to reduce or release bail was denied, and Gama remains in the King County Jail on $50,000 bail.
“These are not ‘just property crimes’ as we sometimes hear in court,” prosecutors said. “These are real crimes that affect employees of businesses large and small, and those costs are passed on to consumers, or stores close. There needs to be appropriate accountability, and King County prosecutors are one step of that.”
Broader Trends in Property Crime
Authorities noted that property crime cases, including organized retail theft, are on the rise in King County. In 2025, prosecutors charged 640 cases where the most serious offense was an economic or property crime, up from 506 cases in 2024, marking a 26% year-over-year increase.
The rise in such offenses highlights the impact on businesses, employees, and consumers, prompting prosecutors to treat large-scale or repeated theft as felony-level offenses rather than minor misdemeanors.
Conclusion
The charges against David Joseph Gama emphasize the legal consequences of repeated and organized retail theft in King County. Prosecutors say the case is an example of the growing need for accountability in property crimes that affect local businesses and the wider community.
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