Auto Zone employee arrested for making fraudulent returns “to supplement his income”

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael James Roberts, 25, of High Springs, was arrested yesterday and charged with making 54 fraudulent return transactions while he was an employee of Auto Zone.

At 1:52 p.m. on Friday, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to Auto Zone (7725 W. Newberry Road), where the regional loss prevention manager said Roberts, who was the parts manager for the business, had been caught making numerous fraudulent returns for a total of $4,441.79. The regional loss prevention manager provided the deputy with records detailing 54 fraudulent transactions.

Post Miranda, Roberts reportedly admitted that he had made “numerous” returns for cash; he said he pulled up his personal customer account and a relative’s personal account, found items that had been purchased but were still under warranty, and processed a return for each item without returning the items. He reportedly said he had done this about 24 times for a total of $2,160; he said “times were tough” and he did this two or three times per week to “supplement his income.” He said he used the cash for his car payment, gas, and food.

Roberts has no local criminal history and has been released from the jail. Bail information is not available on weekends.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The post Auto Zone employee arrested for making fraudulent returns “to supplement his income” appeared first on Alachua Chronicle .