Dunkin’ Donuts manager allegedly hired fake employee, pocketed checks

A Florida Dunkin’ Donuts manager was busted for hiring a “fictitious” employee — and pocketing all of the checks that worker received, according to new reports.

Markia Nelson, 29, who works at the franchise’s location in Largo, a city in Pinellas County, hired the fake worker on May 15, WFLA reported.

From May 16 straight through Saturday, Nelson did all she could to keep up the image that the employee was showing up for work every day — clocking in and out for the “worker,” logging a total of 235 hours, according to an arrest report obtained by the outlet.

The “employee” earned $8.65 an hour — for a total of $1,610.84, the station reported.

Nelson direct deposited all of the funds into her account, admitting that she used the dough for “life expenses,” according to the arrest report.

The company that owns the location was tipped off to the scam and launched its own investigation, FOX 13 reported. Once word reached the Pinellas Park Police Department, it was a relatively open-and-shut case — and Nelson was arrested Monday, according to the report.

“The employee never actually showed up to do any work, and when they researched the employee’s clock-in and clock-out times, they saw that it was her inputting it each time,” Pinellas Park police Sgt. Lonnie Lancto told the outlet.

Nelson has so far only been charged with grand theft, but could face other charges, including identity theft, for the phony employee, according to Lancto.

“She had the information [for the phony worker] who she said … was a friend of hers, so the information for the person was an actual person,” the sergeant told the outlet.

Nelson declined to comment to the outlet this week.

via: https://nypost.com/2019/07/11/dunkin-donuts-manager-allegedly-hired-fake-employee-pocketed-checks/

Photo Credit: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office