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Former employee accused of $80,000 refund scam
Texas police have charged a 23-year-old man with defrauding Chick-fil-A of approximately $80,000 by fraudulently refunding 800 trays of mac-and-cheese to his personal credit cards after being fired.
How the scheme unfolded
According to the Grapevine Police Department, Keyshun Jones returned to a Chick-fil-A location a month after his termination and accessed the restaurant's point-of-sale system behind the counter. Authorities allege he processed refunds for catering-sized mac-and-cheese orders, funneling the funds to his own accounts.
The fast-food chain's catering menu lists large trays of mac-and-cheese at roughly $100 each, depending on the location. The dish, made with three types of cheese, contains nearly 10,000 calories per tray.
Surveillance footage and arrest
Chick-fil-A provided police with surveillance video showing Jones, dressed in civilian clothing-a brown puffer vest, blue jeans, and a backward white cap-operating the register without authorization. The footage contradicts the chain's standard red polo uniform for employees.
Jones evaded arrest multiple times before being apprehended on April 17 during a joint operation by the Texas Attorney General's Fugitive Task Force and Fort Worth Police Department. He now faces charges of property theft, money laundering, and evading arrest.
Legal status and reactions
Jones is currently held at Green Bay Prison in Fort Worth, Texas. His lawyer declined to comment when contacted by The New York Times. The reason for his initial termination remains unclear.
The BBC has reached out to Chick-fil-A's media office for further details but has not yet received a response.
