Ex-Wegmans Worker Pleads Guilty to Fraud

SN STAFF

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A former Wegmans Food Markets supervisor has pleaded guilty to charges of stealing nearly $21,000 from the retailer by fraudulently activating gift cards.

According to a complaint filed by federal authorities, Sean Stockdale, a worker at various Wegmans locations in New Jersey, between 2006 and 2008 activated 141 gift cards by creating false negative balances at store cash registers by ringing up returns, then resolving the negative balance by issuing store and third-party gift cards to himself.

Stockdale, who was fired when Wegmans caught on to his scheme in 2008, faces a prison term of 8 to 14 months and will be required to repay the retailer $20,874. Sentencing is set for later this year.