Former Amazon.com Manager Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Stealing $9.4 Million
Kayricka Wortham, a former operations manager at an Amazon Warehouse in Georgia, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of stealing over $9.4 million from the company. Wortham, along with six other individuals, was charged in connection with the theft, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern Department of Georgia.
During her time at Amazon from August 2020 to March 2022, Wortham used her position to submit fake invoices for nonexistent vendors, resulting in the company unknowingly paying out $9.4 million. She also had her employees input the fake vendor information into the system. The press release states that Wortham and her co-conspirators then submitted fictitious invoices, falsely claiming that the vendors had provided goods and services to Amazon. Wortham approved these invoices, leading to the transfer of millions of dollars to bank accounts controlled by her and her accomplices.
Among those involved in the scheme were Wortham’s partner Brittany Hudson, Demetrius Hines (a loss prevention employee at Amazon), and Laquettia Blanchard (a senior human resources assistant at the company). Hines used stolen personal information purchased from JaQuan Frazier, who allegedly obtained it from Darrel J. Burgo.
The press release also reveals that Wortham and Hudson committed additional criminal acts while on bond. In an attempt to open a hookah lounge in Atlanta, Georgia, they lied about the fraud charges against them, claiming that the charges had been dismissed. They even went so far as to email fraudulent court documents to CRU Franchising Company, including forged signatures and seals of Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten Sr. and the Clerk of the Court.
Wortham pleaded guilty to the fraud charges on November 30, 2022, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She is also required to pay restitution to Amazon in the amount of $9,469,731.45. Additionally, she is facing charges related to defrauding CRU Franchising Company and forging the signature of a federal judge and seal of the Court.
Hines, Blanchard, and Frazier have also pleaded guilty to various charges and will be sentenced at a later date. Hudson and James, another operations manager at Amazon, have been indicted for conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering. Hudson is also facing charges for forging the signature of a federal judge and seal of the Court. Burgo has been charged with conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining trust and integrity in the workplace, as well as the severe consequences that can result from fraudulent activities.