In February 2024, deputies responded to an internal theft investigation at an O'Reilly Auto Parts after management discovered a series of suspicious high-risk cash refunds involving car batteries. According to investigators, an employee had been processing fraudulent refund transactions for months by using old receipts to issue fake cash returns and then pocketing the money. >> From him? >> Yeah, he's been processing fraudulent refunds for $4,000 several months. >> Total amount? >> Okay. He's like a fraudulent returns to like himself or >> Cash. >> Okay. Okay. Wouldn't be the first time someone's done this, but at least it's not 50,000. >> At least it's not 50. >> Yeah, we had someone do 50,000 at Walmart, so >> Ooh. Yeah, no, this one is Yeah, it's only 4,000. >> Okay. >> But he is still inside. I told him, you know, hey, I can't force him to stay. >> Is this a copy for me or >> I can make copies of all of that for you if you like. >> like a copy of the statement. >> Okay. >> And maybe the transactions. >> Yep, these are the transactions, and then I've also got one where he initialed next to and it does say that in the statement that he initialed next to these ones. >> Okay. Yeah, that's the one. And then we're good. So So is he new to this store? >> Um he started working here in 2021. >> Okay. >> He just started doing these in December. >> Okay. Do you want to prosecute, right? That's That's your company policy, is that right? And you guys can do that? Okay. >> Yeah, we prosecute all employees. >> Okay. Uh would you like to do a statement for us and everything? Wonderful, thank you. >> All right, basically did everything, yeah. If you want, you can like >> I would have. Are you going to Are you going to advise him before the Gardner or just pick him up and go? It's up to you. I have the right here if you want to. >> Okay. Well, this is for you to start saving. >> Okay. >> Uh if Well, why don't we go and talk to him? It's fine. Uh looks like, you know, the usual falling on hard times. It happens to everyone. So, let's fill out name, date of birth. Uh you can do the store address, contact number for you, social security or driver's license number. >> Okay. >> And then there to essentially just fill out the, you know, employees and whatever time did all these transactions, returns. >> Okay. >> Um I also read that you told us earlier that he took cash as well. Did he just grab cash from the drawer or >> What he did is he processed those fraudulent refunds and then pocketed that cash. >> Oh, I got you. Yeah, yeah. Okay. >> All right. My license and stuff is inside. >> Okay. Yeah, just Yeah. >> you um where he's at and I'll just kind of sit at the back counter and fill this out. >> Okay. >> If that's okay. >> Yeah, that's perfectly fine. And if you make a copy of that statement for me, okay? >> Yes. Yes. >> Hello. >> I'm going to ask you a couple questions, okay? >> Hello. Uh is there an office or anything you want >> Yeah, you guys can come in here. I'm going to grab my wallet and I will get out of your way. Yep. >> Have you seen this guy before? >> Do you have a card or do you need one? >> Uh I could use one. >> There you go. There you go. >> Do you You have any weapons on you? >> No. >> Okay. We're just going to read you your Miranda card or Miranda warning uh just like the movie. So, okay. So, uh you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand each of these rights I've explained to you? >> Yes. >> Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to us now? >> Yeah. >> Yeah? Okay. Um so, you know, from my understanding, um you know, you were falling on hard times with your parents, right? And you guys needed help making the payments. And you were selling your clothes and everything, right? We We've all been there, dude. We've all been there. Right. But, you know, I understand that You understand firstly that what you do is wrong. And you did the right thing by staying here, filling out a statement. And that All that goes a long way. Right? Um So, it just started in January. Is that correct? >> Yeah. >> Well, how did it all start it? If you don't mind me asking. >> I just like noticed that like batteries weren't like checking to our stock like seeing the computer like we're supposed to have this many uh and only So, we had we had more on the floor, but on the computer only shows that we had a certain amount. And I would just find the old receipts and just return the battery cash. And just go take it to the the landlord meeting and I'd give it to him cuz we were really so behind that I had to try to help him catch up or something at least. But >> I understand you're doing everything, you know, to help your father and everything and your family. So. And you did this just only batteries or what? >> Yeah, or or a little few things, but I think mostly batteries. >> Is there anyone else that knew about this? >> No, it was just me. >> Just you. Okay. Um Is there anything else you want to add? >> No, no, nothing. >> Nothing. That's all. >> Do you know about how much she totaled was? >> Uh like like 4K, I think. >> 4,000? >> Yeah. >> You ever been arrested before? Never been Never been in trouble? >> No. >> Okay. Well, we're just working on some statements right now. She just wants to do a statement, so we're just going to wait on that. >> That's fine. >> Is it okay if I pat you to make sure you're not going to >> Yeah, yeah, that's fine. >> Give me that language. >> Is that Is it Is it good or is it >> Oh, like my knee. Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Okay. >> All right, you're good. >> I want to see how her statement's going. >> Okay. I'll wait here for a second. >> Okay. How's it going? >> I'm just getting ready to write the statement. >> Oh, okay. >> That's okay. Yeah, I mean there's only so much you can talk about. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Is that where she's working at? >> Yes. I've never asked him about it. >> Cuz how late is this place open? >> Uh we stay We [snorts] stay open till 9:00. >> And he's not up when you get home? >> Mhm. No, he's not home He's not home. >> Where's he at? >> Uh he he he's just probably getting off. He probably just got back like He'll probably get back at like 10:00. >> I thought he wasn't working. >> Like no, like when he did. >> No, I mean these You said he got laid off in January or December. >> Yeah, like when he did get off work he he got off work at like 10:00 he'd get home, 10:30 maybe. >> Mhm. But like over the last month and a half that he hasn't been working? >> He's He's He's been at home. >> And you didn't see him? >> Yeah, I've been I've been seeing him. >> You didn't ask him, "Hey, what's up with your leg? What happened? What How you feeling? What's going on?" >> If it don't bother him, I'm not asking him nothing. >> Oh, it's not bothering him anymore? So why doesn't he go back to work? >> Yeah, he's trying to go back to work. >> Okay. Amazon won't take him back? I mean >> I don't He's tried calling. He hasn't got no call back. He's tried calling um like uh Pepsi >> UPS? >> UPS, all that. >> FedEx? >> Mhm. He wants to go back to Walmart cuz he That's where he first started doing down here. But >> Okay. >> Said he'd rather do that anyway besides of Amazon. >> Okay. So, you you pay all the bills there then since he's not working or >> Most of them, yeah. Mom's trying to help out as much as he can. But she probably gets like 500 every check. 5 600. >> Mhm. What are the household bills there? >> Uh the electric >> Like how much you would you say a month? >> A month? >> You're having to put you from your check. >> Uh close to like the whole month probably like 12. >> Is it How much is the rent? >> 17 18. It goes up every year, too. >> Are you guys planning on terminating him or anything like that? >> He's already explained that to him. >> Yeah. >> Already explained that to him. >> Okay. >> Did he get all of his belongings or just like a locker or anything like that? >> I don't know if he's got anything else in his locker or not. Um I let him know that we were terminating his employment. Um we will need to grab up any keys that he's got from him. >> Can he keep his O'Reilly Auto Parts jacket or >> Yes. Those are Those are personal. >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay, cool. Um yeah. >> All right. We were just talking about the money and he says he pays the majority of the bills at the house. >> Mhm. >> But it was just he'll have to explain to you cuz it's not making sense to me the amount of money he makes versus how much he's giving them versus how much the bills are and who's working at the house. And he'll have to explain to you about that and the injury, but he doesn't know how he got injured or not injured anymore and stuff like that. >> Okay. >> So, he'll have to explain that. I'm not sure. So. >> Okay. >> I'll be hold. >> Okay. >> All right. >> All right, brother. Can you sign it for me? Hands behind your back. Palms to palm. Go ahead and take your hat off for me, watch Yeah, I'll take off your watch so it doesn't scratch it up, okay? All right, you can place them on your wrist for me. All right. >> Yeah, I can. >> 1652 Lakeshore Drive, 10-15. >> So >> Then we get your time. >> we'll come back and get your stuff for you, okay? >> I'll carry it out. >> You got >> Yep, I'll carry it out on all this. All right. >> All right, you want to run this way? All right, I'm going to check you one more time, okay? Lean up on the car for me. Back your feet up a little bit. See? >> He was charged with committing a scheme to defraud after deputies say he processed 16 fake cash refund transactions at an O'Reilly Auto Parts store, stealing a total of $4,753.69. Disclaimer: The suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.