Recently, an amusing yet false rumor circulated online claiming that a 102-year-old woman in Warren, Michigan, was arrested for operating an unauthorized Little Caesars pizza shop in her basement. This sensational story was first posted by the Facebook account Macumb Breaking News on March 13, 2025.
“WARREN – A 102-year-old woman was arrested this week after authorities uncovered a fully operational underground Little Caesars running out of her basement. Investigators say she had been selling $5 Hot-N-Readies to a steady stream of customers, some of whom claimed her pizzas were ‘better than the real thing,'” read part of the post’s caption.
This eye-catching post was accompanied by an image of the elderly woman being escorted by police, along with the headline:
“MACUMBDAILY.COM: 102-year-old Warren Woman Busted for Running Underground Little Caesars Out of Her Basement.”
Debunking the Arrest of the Centenarian
Despite gaining significant traction—boasting 2.7K reactions, 1.8K comments, and a staggering 16K shares—the story has been confirmed as a hoax. The Facebook profile for Macumb Breaking News explicitly states it produces satirical and parodical content. Thus, the intention behind the rumor appears to be purely for entertainment and virality, rather than factual reporting.
The narrative featured in the post suggested, “Police were tipped off after several nearby locations reported a sudden drop in sales, and a DoorDash driver attempted to pick up an order from ‘Grandma C’s Pizza Basement’ listed on the app.” However, local law enforcement has not corroborated any such claims or tips.
Continuing the far-fetched tale, the post claimed:
“Officers raided the home and found stacks of pizza boxes, an industrial oven, and a handwritten sign that read ‘Two for $8 – Cash Only.’ When confronted, she reportedly told police, ‘I’ve been making pizza longer than they’ve been alive. What do they know?'”
Moreover, the piece inaccurately reported that she was facing multiple charges for “bootleg pizza distribution” and for unauthorized use of a Caesar mascot. In a humorous twist, it stated she even asked the officers if they wanted “fresh ones for the road.”
Further investigation revealed that the Macumb Breaking News account is dedicated to parodying local events in Macomb County, akin to the well-known publication, The Onion. This undermines the credibility of the rumor.
Additionally, a link from their page directed users to macumbdaily.com, which is not a legitimate news source but a site focused on a particular mayoral candidate named Andrew Kozinski, further questioning the reliability of the information presented.
Ultimately, the profile appears to be a fake, with the name and photos traced back to Andrew Kozinski, a Senior Art Director, whose LinkedIn profile does not suggest any political background.
Insights on Little Caesars Pizza
Founded in 1959, Little Caesars is a prominent American pizza chain ranked fourth in the U.S. in sales, trailing behind Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and Papa John’s. Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, the company operates under the ownership of Ilitch Holdings.
With its presence extending beyond the U.S. to regions such as Asia, Europe, and Latin America, Little Caesars offers a diverse menu featuring a variety of pizzas—including stuffed crust options and their popular Detroit Style Deep Dish—as well as chicken wings, breadsticks, and beverages.
In an exciting development, Little Caesars announced a giveaway of free pizza for a year to the first 100 customers at their new location in Glendale Heights, which opened its doors on Valentine’s Day, with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for March 22, as reported by the Daily Herald on March 19.