Cool Kicks Founder Arrested in Stolen Nike Merchandise Bust
Adeel Shams, the founder of the popular sneaker retailer Cool Kicks, was arrested last week after authorities reportedly found thousands of stolen Nike products during a raid in Southern California.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers collaborated with other law enforcement agencies to execute a search warrant at a Cool Kicks warehouse located in Santa Monica on Thursday. They apparently recovered over 2,100 Nike shoes and around 150 cartons of Nike apparel, with an estimated total value of $500,000.
Shams, 34 years old, was arrested on-site and charged with receiving stolen property. He has since been released from custody, according to jail records.
In a statement posted on social media, Cool Kicks expressed that the news regarding the stolen items came as a “complete shock” to the company. They stressed their commitment to running an honest business based on integrity and trust and mentioned that they had made the acquisition in good faith. They also clarified that there are no claims indicating that the products are counterfeit.
The situation unfolded while Cool Kicks was live streaming an auction on the WhatNot platform. Shams was on camera during the raid and appeared shocked, even questioning if he was the victim of a swatting incident.
He is set to appear in court later this month, and the investigation is still ongoing.
