Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for $300,000 Kohl’s Cash Scam

ST. LOUIS –U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a man who stole nearly $300,000 worth of online merchandise from Kohl’s to 87 months in prison.

Judge Autrey also ordered Marshall Lampkin, 36, to pay the retailer $301,713 and forfeit the stolen items that have been recovered.

According to evidence and testimony at Lampkin’s trial in August, Lampkin carried out his scheme by first using Kohl’s Cash to purchase merchandise in a Kohl’s store, generally for more than $1,000. He would then immediately use the same Kohl’s Cash to order merchandise online, knowing that the in-person transaction had not yet registered. Lampkin returned the items he bought in the store for Kohl’s Cash so he could repeat his scam. Lampkin used the scheme hundreds of times at dozens of stores in more than a dozen states, evidence and testimony showed. Kohl’s asked Lampkin to stop, deactivated his online account and alerted stores, but Lampkin continued by recruiting multiple accomplices, Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf said during Thursday’s hearing.

It's as easy as 2 - 3 - 4! That's right, Taco TWOsday - 3 for $4

Shop Local

Historic Route 66 Flea Market

Get This Deal →

Lampkin had $293,000 in online purchases, which included flooring, furniture, small appliances and other items, shipped to storage units in St. Louis and a relative’s house in Illinois. He then sold or tried to sell those items by advertising them on Facebook.

The Kohl’s Cash scam was part of a series of escalating scams lasting nearly 20 years, Ladendorf said. Lampkin began by illegally selling MetroLink tickets in 2007. He shoplifted from big box stores from 2010-2011 and then targeted a national pharmacy chain’s rewards program beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2023, Ladendorf said. When confronted by store staff, Lampkin would become violent, he said.

The U.S. Secret Service and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Ladendorf and Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.

More like this:

Undocumented Romanian Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Fraud of Nearly $200,000 in 22 States

Mar 9, 2026

Ryne Sandberg, Ken Griffey Jr. and Nolan Ryan Trading Cards, Gold Ingot, and More Available at Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Online ICash Auction

4 days ago

Bi-State Crime Spree Leads to Armed Robbery Arrest and Multiple Criminal Charges

3 days ago

Illinois Treasurer Frerichs Eclipses $2.5 Billion in Money Returned to Residents, Businesses, Nonprofits

4 days ago

Granite City Armed Robbery Suspect In Custody

2 days ago