Mike Stewart/Associated Press
A former Chickfil-A manager and director of hospitality pleaded guilty to fraud charges
Two men stole money from customers and transferred it into their bank accounts.
For wire fraud, you could face up to 20 years imprisonment and 30 years for bank fraud.
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According to a US Department of Justice release, a former Chick-fil A manager pleaded guilty to defrauding customers and the company of almost $500,000
The release stated that Larry James Black Jr., former Alabama Chick-fil A hospitality director, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as well as bank fraud. Joshua Daniel Powell, the former manager of the Chick-fil A restaurant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy for wire fraud. The US Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the crimes and Assistant US Attorney Edward J. Canter prosecuted them.
Chick-fil A declined to comment.
According to the US attorney's office, fraud charges were brought against Black and Powell for moving $492,000 in customer payments. These customer payments were transferred to Black's bank accounts. They were then paid out using customer credit cards. According to the DOJ, the defendants created fraudulent email and payment accounts that resembled official Chick-fil A accounts.
Prosecutors also said that Black used the money for vacations and luxury vehicles. In the plea agreement, he admitted that he used a fake social insurance number and applied for a mortgage using false income and payroll reports. This was used to get a $159,948 mortgage.
Both men were charged with wire fraud. The maximum sentence is 20 years imprisonment. Black could be sentenced to 30 more years for bank fraud. Black is scheduled to receive his sentence in January.
Chick-fil A is a popular fast-food restaurant and has the highest average sales per store in this industry. Chick-fil A stores make more than $4.5 million annually, while McDonald's stores only sell $2.9 million.
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