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 convicted 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 paying out $9.4 million to her and her accomplices. She also had her employees unknowingly add the fake vendor information into the system.
The press release states, “Once the information was entered, Wortham approved the fake vendors, enabling them to submit invoices. Wortham and co-conspirators then submitted fictitious invoices to Amazon, falsely representing that the vendors had provided goods and services to Amazon. Wortham approved the invoices, causing Amazon to transfer millions in fraudulent proceeds to bank accounts controlled by her and her co-conspirators.”
Wortham worked alongside her partner Brittany Hudson, as well as Demetrius Hines and Laquettia Blanchard, who were employees at Amazon. Hines, who worked in loss prevention, used stolen personal information purchased from JaQuan Frazier to aid in the scheme. Blanchard, a senior human resources assistant, helped Wortham create additional fake vendor accounts.
The release also reveals that Wortham and Hudson committed new criminal acts while on bond. They attempted to open a hookah lounge in Atlanta, Georgia, and lied about the fraud charges against them. They sent fraudulent court documents with forged signatures and seals to CRU Franchising Company to support their franchise deal.
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 indicted for 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 their involvement in the scheme and will be sentenced at a later date. Hudson and James are indicted for conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, with Hudson facing additional charges for forging the signature of a federal judge and seal of the Court. Burgo is charged with conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
For more breaking and trending news, follow Kate Perez on Twitter @katecperez_ or email her at kperez@gannett.com.