The owner of CoolKicks LA has publicly addressed his involvement in a stolen sneaker investigation that resulted in a raid at his store last October, stating that he faces no criminal charges.
Adeel Shams posted a video statement on Wednesday clarifying his legal status following the high-profile bust. According to the video, no criminal charges were filed against Shams or CoolKicks in connection with the incident.
Although Shams and other employees were detained when authorities executed the raid, he was subsequently released without facing charges. He was never arrested and his name does not appear in the indictment, according to his statement.
The indictment instead named six Nike employees for their alleged participation in the theft ring. CoolKicks co-founder Bereket Abraham was also charged in the case.
A representative for CoolKicks told TMZ that while Abraham is innocent until proven guilty, the company has severed its business relationship with him following the indictment.
In his video, Shams expressed hope that the allegations against his former business partner prove unfounded and that Abraham will have the chance to clear his name.
The October raid drew significant attention to the Los Angeles sneaker retail operation. Shams' public statement appears aimed at distinguishing his role from those facing prosecution in the alleged scheme.