Women's Criminal Gang Behind $8 Million Cosmetics and Clothing Heist in California

In the world of high-stakes crimes, a new player has emerged, dubbed the 'California Girls' operation. This elaborate scheme, led by 53-year-old Michelle Mack, a mother of three, has been compared to various popular media, such as 'Good Girls', 'Inventing Anna', 'Oceans 8', and even the 2013 movie 'The Bling Ring'.

The operation, based out of a $3 million mansion in San Diego, California, is alleged to have stolen up to $8 million in cosmetic goods and designer clothing over the past few years. The scheme involved recruiting women to steal from stores across the country and mail the loot back to the mansion.

During an early morning raid on Mack's mansion in December, a 'mini-store' of goods worth around $350,000 was discovered. Alina Franco, an alleged member of the California Girls, had $67,000 worth of stolen beauty products at her home in Colton, San Bernardino.

Franco was arrested and appeared in court on 27 February, denying multiple felony counts. Prosecutors have charged Mack, her husband Kenneth, and seven of their known associates with 136 felony counts of grand theft.

However, the public's reaction to the California Girls case has been mixed. While some view it as a reminder about the allure and fascination that surrounds women who commit elaborate high-stakes crimes, others have been known to trivialise these crimes and co-opt them into a 'girlboss' narrative, glamourizing the crimes and the lavish lifestyle of Michelle Mack.

Notable celebrities mentioned in the movie 'The Bling Ring', which shares similarities with the California Girls operation, include Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, and Lindsay Lohan.

Despite the ongoing investigation, no specific individuals have been publicly identified as standing trial related to the California Girls case, nor have the precise number of charges against them been detailed in the provided search results. The term "California Girls" appears mainly in the context of music and not associated with a particular legal case within the available information. Therefore, no information about persons or charges related to a California Girls trial can be confirmed from the search results.