Cape Coral TikTok influencer who stole from Target arrested again for violating probation
Updated: 9:53 AM EDT Jun 11, 2026
Marlena Velez, a Cape Coral TikTok influencer who was convicted of stealing from a Target store, was arrested again on Wednesday after being accused of violating her probation.Velez first gained attention online in 2024 when she filmed herself shoplifting merchandise from a Cape Coral Target and posted it to her TikTok account. At the time, her account had around 300,000 followers. The video led to her arrest after investigators identified reported stolen items in her video.Velez was then arrested a second time, weeks later, after being linked to a second theft at the same Target store. Velez pleaded no contest to petit theft and was sentenced to two years of probation. She was arrested for violating her probation in October 2025 after running and hiding from police officers.Lee County deputies arrested Velez once again on June 10, 2026, after she was again accused of violating her probation. She is still behind bars at the Lee County Jail as of Thursday morning.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Marlena Velez, a Cape Coral TikTok influencer who was convicted of stealing from a Target store, was arrested again on Wednesday after being accused of violating her probation.
Velez first gained attention online in 2024 when she filmed herself shoplifting merchandise from a Cape Coral Target and posted it to her TikTok account. At the time, her account had around 300,000 followers. The video led to her arrest after investigators identified reported stolen items in her video.
Velez was then arrested a second time, weeks later, after being linked to a second theft at the same Target store.
Velez pleaded no contest to petit theft and was sentenced to two years of probation. She was arrested for violating her probation in October 2025 after running and hiding from police officers.
Lee County deputies arrested Velez once again on June 10, 2026, after she was again accused of violating her probation. She is still behind bars at the Lee County Jail as of Thursday morning.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.