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Cantonment Woman Charged With Defrauding Walmart Out Of Nearly $50K In Phones
September 2, 2023
A Cantonment woman has been charged with an alleged theft scheme that cost Walmart nearly $50,000.
Mackenzie Elizabeth McKay, 22, was charged with grand theft $20,000 to $100,000 and scheme to defraud over $20,000, both second degree felonies. She was released on a $12,000 bond.
In 2019, Walmart on Mobile Highway reported what they called a “complex employee related theft and fraud”, according to the Escambia County Sheriff.
McKay “created numerous fraudulent cellphone contracts for the price of the cellphone and service with the intent to steal the cellphones and provided them to someone else,” an arrest report states.
The total loss, the ECSO said, was $49,576.
McKay stated that a man “Chip” purchased a phone from her, and that he would later send people to her along with identification, phone numbers, addresses and social security numbers. She stated that she was sometimes paid $200 for each person, according to the arrest report.
While the alleged crimes occurred in 2019, McKay was just recently arrested.
Comments
22 Responses to “Cantonment Woman Charged With Defrauding Walmart Out Of Nearly $50K In Phones”
I agree there should be no bail and that would make an even playing field for all. Just keep them locked up till they are either convicted or found not guilty. Solves the problem.
At least she thinks it’s funny
@Angela Eddins Roney
I agree. If someone is a flight risk? Or the crime they are accused of is heinous enough? They should stay in jail until their trial. Otherwise? They should go free until their trial.
Our current system of “poor people stay in jail while rich people get to bail out” is stupid.
What is wrong with people? If she’s guilty she will pay but to not be offered bail? You’re kidding, right? The purpose for being arrested is because they believe a person is guilty of a crime! Not everyone is guilty of the crime they’re arrested for. Some people are so ignorant! The process is put in place for a reason! Geez, Stay in school or you’ll end up a fool!!!
REGARDING:
“they lose about $5 billion to theft and shoplifting every year. That sounds like a big number, but it barely makes a dent in the roughly $600 billion”
Generous with other people’s money.
“I don’t have stock in Walmart so what do I care?” attitudes.
David for better people
No bail, yeah that’s has worked out great for states and cities that have went to that. What it means is a person gets booked in and released with a court date. There’s no promise to return nothing put up for collateral. And I know some say the poor can’t pay, well on here I have seen most post bail and don’t even have a job. When there’s really no reason to show up for court the bondsman gets involved as well a law enforcement only to deal with them again and again and again. I say they know the risk before being arrested but yet they still take the chance. And I understand innocent until proven guilty, when a cop walks up to a car and a convicted felon has a gun in their lap and dope in the car, well their guilty without a doubt, until some lawyer sees that a T wasn’t crossed or an I dotted, doesn’t mean they weren’t guilty, just means they got off this time, same goes for pleading a case down for lesser charges.
@Oversight
…I’m genuinely not sure what you’re talking about. New York and California still have bail.
Regardless, eliminating bail doesn’t mean “no one goes to jail”. It means “being wealthy doesn’t excuse you from going to jail while you await trial”.
I like that she is staying positive with that smile… In light of these troubling accusations.
Bob’s …”or better yet, just eliminate bail.”
No bail is working out great in places like NYC, Chicago, and California, right? LOL!
It’s a scheme to get people to plead guilty because they’ve already done the time (not having the money for bail)
@Molino Man
Not really.
Walmart estimates that they lose about $5 billion to theft and shoplifting every year. That sounds like a big number, but it barely makes a dent in the roughly $600 billion they make every year.
With 50k in losses that definitely gets added into the price paying consumers pay.
@Bob, just like anyone else who enters a profession, legal or not, they knew the risk they were taking and decided to roll the dice, maybe she should have saved some of the stolen money for future bail.
@st,
The scheme has been going on for years. The carriers lose thousands of dollars every day. Nice to see them finally catching on.
@Eric M
…or better yet, just eliminate bail.
Our current bail system is practically just legalized bribery, and inherently creates a two-tiered justice system. Wealthy people pay a fee and get released until their trial date, while poor people sit behind bars.
not sure I understand the scheme, but the news or cops probably being vague on purpose about it because it’s extra deviant. They don’t want the scheme replicated. Got a wide open border and these phones were going to unknown individuals under false identities. Cartels and such probably involved.
She seems pretty proud of herself! I’m curious about the people sent by “Chip” and what that while thing was about.
Why not set her bail at $49,576.
Maybe they should start setting bail at the amount of stolen/vandalized/fraudulent items. Make it a full cash bail only.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. She could have put it to better use.
hope she is still “ALL SMILES” in prison
Hopefully, she spends some time in jail and corrects that smile!
If these were stolen names, addresses and SSNs, this should also be investigated and charged as aggravated identity theft.