Lansing, MI - A Troy grocery store manager has been charged with 1 Count of Embezzlement over $100,000 and 1 Count of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime in a case uncovered by the Department of Attorney General’s 'FORCE Team' and the Organized Retail Crime Unit, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday, February 16, 2024.
The State alleges that Trevor Beaver, 31, of Roseville, embezzled at least $750,000 from Fresh Thyme Market in Troy from July 2022 through November 2023 while he was a manager at the store. The funds were stolen from newly installed self-checkout kiosks, which Beaver had access to. The charges against Beaver carry a maximum imprisonment of 20 years or more to Life.
“Retail theft doesn’t just impact Michigan businesses, but it hurts consumers when the retailer must raise prices to compensate for lost revenue,” Nessel said. “I am grateful for the collaborative work by the FORCE Team, the Michigan State Police, and Fresh Thyme to bring this criminal’s conduct to light. As long as this pervasive issue exists, my department’s Organized Retail Crime Unit will continue to hold bad actors accountable.”
An audit system for the self-checkout machines was implemented in October of 2023. It was then that accountants supporting Fresh Thyme noticed a large amount of money missing from the Troy location. It is alleged that Beaver often scheduled himself as the only manager responsible for depositing the daily cash, including on his days off. An audit revealed discrepancies between the cash sales and deposits, with an approximate loss amount of $900,000. An investigation revealed that approximately $750,000 of the loss was due to theft by Beaver.
When confronted by management, loss prevention, and the Michigan State Police, Beaver admitted to embezzling the money.
“Businesses of all sizes should be enforcing even the most basic mechanisms for loss prevention. All stores that lack similar protections should heed this warning to protect themselves from falling victim next,” Nessel added.
Beaver’s arraignment date is to be determined.
The FORCE Team and the Organized Retail Crime Unit were established in January by the Attorney General to target criminal organizations that steal products from retailers to repackage and sell for a profit. Two assistant attorneys general serve the unit full time, working with special agents within the Department of Attorney General and also working with Michigan State Police detectives to investigate and prosecute these crimes. In September, the Department announced a partnership with the FBI’s Detroit Fraud and Financial Crimes Task Force, which has assigned a special agent to the FORCE Team to assist State efforts to combat organized retail crime. This is a first-in-the-nation unit, unique in the 50 states as being the first such unit with embedded, dedicated staff from the Department of Attorney General.
The FORCE Team is dedicated to working collaboratively with retailers and local law enforcement agencies to combat organized retail crime. Recent corporate partners on investigations have included Sam’s Club/Walmart, Meijer, Target, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Rite-Aid, Lululemon, Ulta, and Lowe’s. The team’s first major investigation produced charges against seven individuals earlier this year.
Local law enforcement agencies or retailers with evidence of organized retail fraud are encouraged to