A man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after authorities say he stole hundreds of LEGO sets and electronics during a theft spree that stretched from Dallas-Fort Worth to Oklahoma.
According to CBS News, Winston Love was convicted by a jury in Tarrant County for a series of retail thefts that occurred over a 50-day period. Prosecutors said Love targeted multiple stores and stole merchandise valued at more than $30,000 before his eventual arrest.
Authorities Say More Than 200 LEGO Sets Were Stolen
Investigators alleged that Love stole more than 200 LEGO sets during the crime spree.
In addition to the popular toy sets, authorities said he also took:
- More than a dozen coffee makers
- Vacuum cleaners
- PlayStation controllers
- Other retail merchandise
The stolen goods reportedly totaled more than $30,000 in value.
Retail theft cases involving LEGO products have become increasingly common in recent years due to the high resale value of certain collectible sets. Some rare and discontinued LEGO products can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars on secondary marketplaces.
Prosecutors argued that the volume of merchandise involved demonstrated a deliberate and ongoing theft operation rather than isolated incidents.
Jury Convicts Defendant in Tarrant County
Following a trial in Tarrant County, jurors found Love guilty of the charges related to the theft spree.
The court sentenced him to 45 years in prison and imposed a $10,000 fine.
According to reports, Love was already facing significant legal troubles before sentencing. Authorities said he had accumulated more than $1.3 million in bond amounts across multiple jurisdictions, reflecting numerous pending cases and legal proceedings.
The lengthy prison sentence highlights the seriousness with which prosecutors and the court viewed the repeated thefts and the defendant’s criminal history.