A Fort Worth man who stole more than $300,000 worth of merchandise from multiple North Texas stores was found guilty and sentenced to prison Wednesday, June 10.
Pexels
A Fort Worth man who stole more than 200 Lego sets and other merchandise from multiple North Texas stores has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Winston Love, 28, was found guilty of organized retail theft with a deadly weapon, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells announced Wednesday on social media. A Tarrant County jury handed down his sentence.
This is the first jury trial under Texas’s updated Organized Retail Theft statute, which applies to crimes committed on or after Sept. 1, 2025. Thanks to the Target Loss Prevention Team and to police in Euless, Grapevine, Mansfield, and Watauga for their work on this case. pic.twitter.com/AZpiZauwNZ
— Tarrant County DA (@TarrantCountyDA) June 10, 2026
Love’s case is the first jury trial held under Texas’ updated Organized Retail Theft statute, according to the post. The law provides harsher penalties for certain types of shoplifting and applies to crimes committed on or after Sept. 1, 2025.
Prosecutors say Love stole more than $300,000 worth of merchandise from several Target stores over a 50-day span in 2025. In addition to Legos, he took PlayStation controllers, vacuums and around a dozen coffeemakers.
The morning of Oct. 27, Love fled a Mansfield Target after a loss-prevention officer recognized him and called him by name, according to the post.
“He sped away, at times driving on the wrong side of the road and endangering motorists, including children riding on school buses,” the post states.
Love was also fined $10,000, according to Tarrant County court records.
Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Harriet Ramos covers crime and other breaking news for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.