Woman suspected of using juveniles in alleged shoplifting scheme

A woman was named in a Newport Police Department (NPD) incident report as being a suspect in an alleged shoplifting scheme involving juveniles.

According to the report filed by NPD Sgt. Justin Vinson, he was contacted April 8 by a Walmart loss prevention officer involving an alleged theft involving Kellie Nicole Downs, 29.

The report indicates Downs is a suspect in another incident of using juveniles to steal grocery items in shopping carts and using them to leave the store while she is the lookout. The report goes on to state the incident took place on March 18.

According to video evidence, per the report, Downs and numerous juveniles loaded up shopping carts that contained prepaid canvas Walmart bags with grocery items. Downs then seen going to the seasonal section of Walmart behind the case registers while she was on the phone. Each of the juveniles had a loaded shopping cart and staged in the bakery area next to the doors.

Per the report, the video evidence then showed when there was nobody looking, Downs gave the OK and the juveniles went out one at a time with their loaded shopping carts, loaded a vehicle with the groceries and then returned to the store. The juveniles then returned empty handed as they and Downs then through a checkout lane with a few items, showing they purchased something.

It was not clear from the report if a warrant has been issued.