Federal authorities say two Amazon employees stole USD9.4mil (RM41.05mil) in months and spent it on real estate, diamonds, and luxury cars.
Prosecutors say a former Amazon operations manager and a loss prevention worker orchestrated the plan, which netted millions for them. Both worked in an Amazon warehouse in Smyrna, Georgia, a small city 15 miles northwest of Atlanta.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, they must return their Smyrna home, Lamborghini, Porsche, Rolex, and other items.
The former manager, who is 31 and from Atlanta, and the former loss prevention employee, who is 35 and from Smyrna, have both pleaded guilty to defrauding Amazon.com Inc., the attorney’s office said in a Dec. 1 news release.
“This massive deception was fuelled by pure greed, as reflected by the high-end real estate, fancy cars, and expensive jewellery that the defendants soon accumulated,” US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said.
On December 2, Nicholas Lotito, an Atlanta criminal defence attorney defending the ex-manager, told McClatchy News that the case is “unique” and that his client, a single mother, is collaborating with the government to repay Amazon.
Lotito said, “Oddly enough, this is not something she engaged in for personal benefit.” More details will emerge.
“It’s unfortunate because she’s a young and talented woman,” Lotito said. “Sorry she’s involved.”
On December 2, McClatchy News contacted the other defendant’s attorney for comment but didn’t hear back.
Given the case’s state, Amazon spokesperson Maria Boschetti addressed queries to the US Attorney’s Office.
“These invoices fraudulently suggested that the bogus vendors had given goods and services to Amazon”
The Scheme
Prosecutors say the single mother and former Amazon Smyrna warehouse operations manager approved new vendors and paid vendor invoices. The warehouse employed her from August 2020 to March 2022.
“More than US$10mil in fraudulent invoices for those suppliers, causing Amazon to transfer about US$9.4mil (RM41.05mil) to bank accounts controlled by her and her co-conspirators,” court filings state.
Prosecutors said she encouraged Amazon employees uninformed of the operation to enter bogus vendor information into Amazon’s vendor system.
Prosecutors said the woman, loss prevention worker, and others would submit the fraudulent invoices for payment. Managers are accused of recruiting others for their plans.
“These invoices fraudulently suggested that the bogus vendors had given goods and services to Amazon,” the announcement added.
According to the announcement, the former manager acquired a Smyrna home for over US$900,000 (RM3.93mil), a Lamborghini, a Dodge Durango, a Tesla Model X, a Porsche Panamera, and a motorcycle with the stolen money.
Prosecutors claimed she will lose the purchases and over US$2.7mil (RM11.79mil) as part of her punishment.
Prosecutors said the former loss prevention worker will forfeit a motorcycle, Mustang, Rolex, diamond necklace, bracelet, and more he bought with stolen money. He will forfeit over US$600000 (RM2.62mil).
“They attempted to hide their scheme in plain sight by exploiting their distinct responsibilities within their firm to disguise the actions from which they fraudulently benefitted,” US Secret Service Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven Baisel stated.
A lady who was in a relationship with the warehouse manager was also charged with conspiracy to conduct wire fraud in connection with the case, according to the announcement.
McClatchy News’ request for comment was denied by her attorney.
Info source – The Star