A Lancaster man and Fitchburg woman have been indicted on charges related to leading an organized retail crime operation, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said Wednesday.
According to Early, 68-year-old John Duplease Jr., of Lancaster, and 43-year-old Penny Williams, of Fitchburg, were indicted by a Worcester County grand jury this week. Duplease was indicted on four counts including leader of organized retail theft enterprise, aggravated organized retail crime, organized retail crime and failure to secure a firearm. Williams was indicted for organized retail crime.
Duplease was arrested by Lancaster Police on May 8, 2021 after being investigated by Lancaster and Leominster police and Massachusetts State Police for more than a year. Authorities said Duplease had more than 20 individuals working with him to shoplift from local retail establishments. He allegedly stored the stolen items at his home in Lancaster and his business on Central Street in Leominster, before reselling them online.
Authorities said Williams worked for Duplease, receiving and paying for stolen property, in addition to shipping to resold merchandise.
Duplease and Williams were previously arraigned in Leominster District Court and were each released on $2,500 cash bail. Authorities said Duplease also faced charges in Clinton District Court.
The pair will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court at a later date, where the indictment now moves the charges.