CoolKicks Founder Arrested After Police Seize $500K in Stolen Nike Gear
The founder of CoolKicks, a well-known sneaker and apparel retailer, was arrested last week after authorities allegedly discovered a massive stash of stolen Nike merchandise at the company’s Southern California warehouse.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers executed a search warrant Thursday at CoolKicks’ Santa Monica facility in coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies.
During the raid, investigators reportedly seized more than 2,100 pairs of Nike sneakers and 150 cartons of Nike apparel, estimated to be worth around $500,000. Adeel Shams, 34, the founder of CoolKicks, was taken into custody on suspicion of receiving stolen property. He has since been released, per jail records.
In a statement posted to social media, CoolKicks called the discovery a “complete shock” and maintained that the company purchased the merchandise “in good faith.” The team emphasized that CoolKicks has always aimed to operate “with honesty, integrity, and trust,” and clarified that there have been no allegations of counterfeit goods connected to the case.
The timing of the raid added another twist: it reportedly took place while CoolKicks was livestreaming an auction on WhatNot, with Shams visibly surprised on camera as law enforcement entered. At the moment, he appeared to believe it might have been a swatting incident before realizing the gravity of the situation.
Authorities have not yet released further details about the ongoing investigation.
