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 Amazon 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 with her partner Brittany Hudson, as well as Demetrius Hines and Laquettia Blanchard, who were both employees at Amazon. Hines used stolen personal information that he purchased from JaQuan Frazier, who allegedly obtained the information from Darrel J. Burgo.
Hines and Blanchard were paid with the fraudulent proceeds, and Hines recruited Jamar L. James, Sr., another operations manager at Amazon, into the scheme. James continued approving fake vendors and fictitious invoices even after Wortham left the company.
While on bond, Wortham and Hudson engaged in new criminal conduct that led to the cancellation of their bonds. They attempted to open a hookah lounge in Atlanta, Georgia, and lied to CRU Franchising Company about the Amazon fraud charges against them, claiming the charges had been dismissed. They even sent fraudulent court documents with forged signatures and seals to support their claims.
Wortham pleaded guilty to the fraud charges 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 for defrauding CRU Franchising Company and forging the signature of a federal judge.
Hines, Blanchard, and Frazier have also pleaded guilty to various charges related to the scheme. Hudson and James have been indicted for conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, with Hudson also facing charges for forging the signature of a federal judge. Burgo has been charged with conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
The defendants will be sentenced at a later date.
For more breaking and trending news, follow Kate Perez on Twitter @katecperez_ or email her at kperez@gannett.com.