A&P tipped investigators to executive fraud

A&P said it alerted federal authorities to a ticket-selling scheme run by one its senior employees, an investigation that resulted in this week’s guilty plea by former SVP John Moritz.

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As reported previously, Moritz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to using company funds to buy concert and event tickets, then selling the tickets for personal gain. Investigators said Moritz took steps to avoid detection, including having vendors provide phony invoices and deliver tickets to locations other than A&P’s Montvale, N.J., headquarters.

“As a matter of record, A&P does not expend funds on entertainment events for employees at any level,” the company said in a statement. “A&P continues to cooperate fully with prosecutors handling the matter. A&P has worked hard to gain the trust of the communities in which it serves, and we are extremely disappointed by the actions of Mr. Moritz. We pride ourselves on being a pillar of honesty, loyalty and reliability, and will not permit the criminal activities of one to cast a pall over the 30,000 terrific associates who work in our stores every day.”

The fraud count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 9.

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