Walmart Employee Funneled $20,000 in Tires - Then Tried to "Open Door" His Firing

[00:00:00]a routine tire sale. [music] That's all this receipt was supposed to record.

[00:00:04]>> Then you made a customer come back inside the store and pay for um the tires >> and he put all the 20 tires at $20.

[00:00:12][music] >> Investigators say the employee remembered every detail of that morning.

[00:00:17]Almost >> that day he pretty much remembered everything up until the point of >> tires and truck and it was his own truck.

[00:00:24]>> Did you guys see that the credit card that he used was his? It came back to him. So did he even >> he declined? He's like, "Oh, I don't remember. I have to check my statements, my text messages."

[00:00:32]>> So, even no matter what I just told you, I was going to get fired regardless while walking in here.

[00:00:38]>> Do you want me to like give you like a whole breakdown or >> You remember when I said that if I'm going to ask you a question, it's because I already know the answers, right?

[00:00:44]>> Yeah.

[00:00:44]>> So, don't Okay.

[00:00:46]>> Okay.

[00:00:47]>> On May 3rd, 2024, a Walmart in Boon Beach, Florida became the center of an internal theft investigation. The detail that makes this case stand out. An employee sent a customer out the door with 20 tires. Those 20 tires were priced at a total of $20.

[00:01:06]$1 per tire. That number is not just strange. It is the direct evidence prosecutors need to prove criminal intent.

[00:01:14]>> It is uh July April 16th. It's approximately 139 hours. I'm here with um Walmart LPO LPO con um you raise your right hand to say the truth and the whole truth.

[00:01:29]>> Yes.

[00:01:29]>> All right. Have a seat.

[00:01:33]>> In regards to a employee who is um >> Okay. So just tell me what happened.

[00:01:40]>> Um so what happened was um the 5th of April >> Mhm. Um he came he came work at 6 something in the morning.

[00:01:50]>> He went in the bathroom where there was all the tires >> and he was fixing the tires. Then he went to the oil he he took the tires from the he took the tires from the tires room and went to the oil room >> and stage the tires there.

[00:02:05]>> In what room?

[00:02:06]>> From the oil room.

[00:02:06]>> Oil room.

[00:02:07]>> Yeah. He stage the tires and around approximately 8:40 or 8:50 on this time he had one um the customer that came in and from what he told me that that person was his brother but I don't know person told me that that's his brother >> and you Okay.

[00:02:40]>> So, he said, "All right, so you said customer came in."

[00:02:43]>> Yeah, the customer came in. Um, >> he gave him he loaded the 20 tires in the in the truck, then he made the customer come back inside the store and pay for um the tires >> and he put all the 20 tires at $20.

[00:02:58]Okay.

[00:02:59]>> And then um that's when the the team lead informed me that um there's a transaction that was made but he don't know >> if the customer pay the full price for the items. So we have something that called a smart system. I went over the smart system and I was able to retrieve the receipt.

[00:03:15]>> Mhm.

[00:03:15]>> And it show that he f he went in the cash register and changed the price of the item.

[00:03:23]>> Okay. You checked the smart system you said?

[00:03:25]>> Yeah. smart system >> and discovered it was changed.

[00:03:28]>> Yeah, it's true that he manually um input the prices >> cuz normally for you to do those um for you to um change do the price override you need a coach or team lead um permission to let >> and is he a coach or team leader why he so why did he how did he have the code?

[00:03:46]>> So no so what he did he did um item he put item looks up. So when he put the item looks up it let him do it without um the team of the coach.

[00:03:55]>> Okay. So that's what you did.

[00:03:56]>> Okay. Um, so that was the first time.

[00:04:01]>> Yeah, that was the first time. Then >> hold on one second.

[00:04:05]>> And where was the where was the where did this truck park?

[00:04:10]>> So he parked the truck behind um behind the building.

[00:04:14]>> So the truck was behind the building.

[00:04:16]>> Yes.

[00:04:16]>> And who loaded the truck?

[00:04:17]>> So him and the other guy load the truck.

[00:04:19]So he he pushed the exit door.

[00:04:21]>> Mhm. Then he stopped giving um the person the tires.

[00:04:26]>> And how do you know that it's 20 tires?

[00:04:28]>> Um we count the tires and >> on the video >> on the video we count the tires. It was 16. And the um the team said that um he he take a book pictures and he count >> how many tires we see it was 20 tires.

[00:04:40]And we also did inventory.

[00:04:42]>> Okay. Through inventory >> to inventory we see that it was we started 16 but to inventory show us it was 20. And also the team lead saw physically how many tires.

[00:04:49]>> And who's this team leader? His name is Greg.

[00:04:52]>> Greg?

[00:04:52]>> Yeah.

[00:04:53]>> Is Greg here today?

[00:04:54]>> Um I I'm think so. I'm not sure.

[00:04:56]>> Okay. All right. I'll get Greg after this. So, okay. Boom. So, then after that, >> then after that, the one the other one was early in the morning. It was around like 6 something in the morning.

[00:05:05]>> Which day was that?

[00:05:06]>> On the 5th also.

[00:05:08]>> So, this one you said he came in at 6:00 a.m. to work.

[00:05:10]>> Yeah, he came at 6:00 a.m. to work.

[00:05:12]That's when he did the first one. And >> the next day, they informed me that there was more tire missing. Mhm.

[00:05:17]>> So then when I review the the transaction, I said that um around this around 7 something, the truck came and delivered some um some tires.

[00:05:26]>> So 7:00 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. So two times.

[00:05:29]>> Yeah.

[00:05:29]>> Okay.

[00:05:30]>> So when um the truck came, he unload the trucks.

[00:05:33]>> Was it the same truck?

[00:05:34]>> No, it was another truck. So it was another truck that came and dropped some tires. But at the when you go look at the video, everything was made outside.

[00:05:43]So you say a separate se truck came at 7:00 a.m. and dropped tires or pickup tires.

[00:05:49]>> Drop tires. So delivery, >> huh?

[00:05:51]>> They come to delivery tires.

[00:05:52]>> Oh. Oh. Okay.

[00:05:55]>> So delivery. Okay. And that was a Walmart delivery that you guys were expecting. Yes.

[00:05:59]>> Okay.

[00:06:00]>> Okay. And then what happened?

[00:06:01]>> And and around that time he was fixing the tires and then I don't remember around that time you would see a black truck in the video. He told a black truck to backtop around the Bay Area.

[00:06:11]>> Which truck is this now? That That's going to be the black truck.

[00:06:14]>> Okay. So, this is the truck from earlier.

[00:06:16]>> From earlier.

[00:06:16]>> Yeah. Left with the tires.

[00:06:18]>> The 850 truck.

[00:06:19]>> The 850 truck. It was a bull truck and the other one was a black truck.

[00:06:22]>> Okay. So, now it's a black truck.

[00:06:24]>> Yeah. It's a black truck.

[00:06:25]>> So, with that truck, you will see him go outside to back up. And the guy backed up and he started giving him tires.

[00:06:30]>> Mhm.

[00:06:31]>> And after that, he gave him 20 tires. He went back inside the store. We put in the system. It was 12 tires. Mhm.

[00:06:38]>> We did inventory again and we found out it was 20 tires that was missing again.

[00:06:42]>> So in total he >> And how much was the tires again? How much did he change it for?

[00:06:47]>> He changed it for um $20, but he put 12 tires.

[00:06:50]>> Okay.

[00:06:53]But it was Okay. Gotcha. All right. So the trucks that do you have guys have tags on those trucks?

[00:06:59]>> Only one that have tags of of it and it was this one of those.

[00:07:03]>> Okay.

[00:07:04]>> But the other one was the black one. It was kind of fitted open and came out like >> that's the black truck.

[00:07:11]>> And then >> this this one >> Oh, that was the first time the 7 a.m.

[00:07:18]one. And this is the second one. That's the Okay. The first one >> is the black truck.

[00:07:23]>> Yes. The second one.

[00:07:24]>> Yeah, that's what Okay. All right. Um, can I see the video? Yeah.

[00:07:29]>> And then after that, let's get that um witness. Yeah. Okay.

[00:07:36]And what's this guy's name? Um, >> his name is Ryan. B R A A W A M.

[00:07:44]>> Knows nothing about this.

[00:07:45]>> He don't He don't know nothing about it.

[00:07:46]>> Okay. I'll make sure that so he doesn't bail out on Brian. Do you know his date of birth?

[00:07:51]>> No, I don't have his date of birth yet.

[00:07:52]>> Okay, I'll >> How old is he?

[00:07:55]>> Um, they told me approximately he is 25.

[00:07:58]>> Okay.

[00:07:59]>> So now that you'll see that's when the black truck is leaving right now.

[00:08:02]>> Okay.

[00:08:05]That's the black truck. Anyway, >> what time is that?

[00:08:07]>> That is 7:45.

[00:08:11]>> And that's the tires.

[00:08:13]>> That's the tires in the JC truck.

[00:08:15]>> Call you right back. Let me call you right back. Okay. Yeah.

[00:08:17]>> The central legal question here is not whether a theft occurred, but which degree of felony actually applies. Under Florida statute 812.014.

[00:08:28]theft becomes grand theft in the second degree once stolen property reaches $20,000 in value. The loss prevention officer testified the total loss exceeded $20,000, placing this case above the thirdderee threshold. That distinction carries real weight. Seconddegree grand theft allows up to 15 years in prison compared to 5 years at the lower tier. Florida law also permits prosecutors to aggregate multiple smaller thefts committed under one continuing scheme into a single larger felony charge. That aggregation doctrine matters here because the loss prevention officer described not one incident but a pattern repeated across several mornings. Separately, Florida statute 812.015 addresses retail theft through price manipulation. Specifically, it covers anyone who alters a price or overrides a register with intent to deprive a merchant of full value. Manually keying in an unauthorized price without supervisor approval exactly as described here is the precise conduct that statute was written to target.

[00:09:45]>> You want read?

[00:09:47]>> Yeah, I do. Do it all here.

[00:09:49]>> Yes. Hey.

[00:09:51]>> Hey. What's going on?

[00:09:52]>> Just can't hear your story.

[00:09:55]>> What's up, bud?

[00:09:55]>> What's up?

[00:09:59]>> All right. Good. How are you?

[00:10:01]>> So, I can't like even if I make a statement, I can't defend my case. You can defend your case. Yeah.

[00:10:06]>> By being terminated.

[00:10:07]>> Yes, sir.

[00:10:08]>> Y.

[00:10:09]>> So, how can I make a statement?

[00:10:11]>> Like, like me and April just told you, if you want to open door your termination, then you have 100% right to do that. You can either come back and ask to speak to the market HR or you can call Google Walmart ethics and they'll give you that phone number to open door termination.

[00:10:26]>> But >> but then I'm just fired regardless.

[00:10:29]>> So they could overturn it. They could not. But I'm just saying what our facts of our investigation.

[00:10:33]>> Right. We have everything detailed lined up and we just bring the associates in to figure out what caused this to happen.

[00:10:40]>> Okay.

[00:10:40]>> Right. And that's why we came to talk to you to figure out what caused this to happen.

[00:10:44]>> Okay.

[00:10:44]>> Okay. So, even no matter what I just told you, I was going to be a fire regardless while walking in here.

[00:10:49]>> Correct.

[00:10:53]>> So, everything else is going to be between April and these two gentlemen here. Okay.

[00:10:56]>> All right. That's fine.

[00:10:57]>> I appreciate you coming to talk to me, though.

[00:10:59]>> Yeah. It's just kind of wish I had just some time to even remember just anything with the source.

[00:11:07]>> How you doing, man? All right. All right. All right. Mr. Flores. Hey, you can stay seated, man. Officer Daily with the Boy Beach Police Department. Yeah, of >> course you know why we're here. It's no secret. All right, >> but before I get into anything, I'm going to read your rights. All right.

[00:11:22]>> Rights against self-inccrimination.

[00:11:23]Everyone is entitled to that. You have one on you?

[00:11:26]>> Yeah.

[00:11:26]>> All right. So, my partner here is going to read your right and I'm going to ask you to a few questions and talk to you about the investigation. Okay.

[00:11:32]>> Okay.

[00:11:32]>> Um >> it's best that you be honest with us because that's I mean, we already have everything. And I'm not going to ask you questions if I don't know the answer.

[00:11:42]But that's just going to see your honesty with you and where you lie and how this goes.

[00:11:46]>> All right. So if I ask you a question, it's because I already know.

[00:11:48]>> Okay.

[00:11:49]>> All right. And this isn't my first time coming across this with you.

[00:11:53]>> All right. Yeah. Well, in in this whole situation. All right.

[00:11:56]>> You know me from >> Yeah. No, no, no. But >> if I'm I'm asking I'm talking to you, it's cuz I have knowledge of what's going on. So if you're lying for me from the jump, I'll already know. And it just makes it worse. All right. And we want this to be smooth as possible. All right. All right.

[00:12:09]>> So, I'm going to go through this line by line and after every line and just advise to me that you understand these rights.

[00:12:14]>> Okay.

[00:12:15]>> Okay.

[00:12:16]>> You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions. Do you understand?

[00:12:20]>> Yeah.

[00:12:20]>> Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[00:12:21]>> I understand.

[00:12:22]>> I understand.

[00:12:23]>> Okay. I'm going to say that one more time. You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions. Do you understand?

[00:12:27]>> I understand.

[00:12:28]>> Any statement you make must be freely and voluntarily given. Do you understand?

[00:12:31]>> I understand.

[00:12:32]>> You have the right to the presence and representation of a lawyer of your choice before you make any statement and during any question. Do you understand?

[00:12:38]>> Understand?

[00:12:38]>> If you cannot afford a lawyer, you are entitled to the presence and representation of a courtappointed lawyer before you make any statements and during any questioning. Do you understand?

[00:12:48]>> I understand.

[00:12:50]>> If at any time during the interview you do not wish to answer any questions, you are privileged to remain silent. Do you understand?

[00:12:54]>> I understand.

[00:12:56]>> I can make no threats or promises to induce you to make a statement. This must be of your own free will.

[00:13:04]>> Any statement can and will be used against you in the court of law. You understand? I understand. Okay. You want to sign?

[00:13:08]>> Oh, yeah. So, you just got to sign that.

[00:13:10]That's not admission of guilt. That's just stating that we read you your Miranda warnings and your rights and that you understood it. Okay.

[00:13:17]>> All right.

[00:13:18]Just sign like right here.

[00:13:20]>> Same.

[00:13:21]>> Yeah.

[00:13:28]>> All right. Mr. What's your first name?

[00:13:30]>> Uh, Brian. B R A Y A M.

[00:13:32]>> Okay. And your last name?

[00:13:33]>> And what's your date of birth?

[00:13:34]>> 6302.

[00:13:36]6302. Do you know why we're here?

[00:13:38]>> Um, yeah. For I'm assuming for this case, the following up, >> which is what?

[00:13:42]>> The the tires.

[00:13:44]>> Okay. So, tell me about that.

[00:13:46]>> Um, like I said, the hoodie guy come up to me. I was going to toss >> You haven't told me anything yet. So, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I Yeah. Yeah.

[00:13:54]Yeah. I I need to hear from you. What What's >> So, the hoodie guy comes up to me, says, "Hey, you happen to have some clearance?" I'm like, "Yeah, just I have some, but I have other work to do, but just give me a second and I can pursue that." Just kind of go from there. Make a transaction for him. Comes up, load up his tires, and then Yeah.

[00:14:16]>> You want me to like give you like a whole breakdown or >> You remember when I said that if I'm going to ask you a question, it's because I already know the answers, right?

[00:14:22]>> Yeah.

[00:14:22]>> So, don't me. Okay.

[00:14:24]>> Okay.

[00:14:25]>> So, once again, tell me detail by detail what happened.

[00:14:30]other than some random hoodie guy cuz we knew it wasn't a random hoodie guy.

[00:14:33]>> Okay.

[00:14:34]>> All right.

[00:14:34]>> Yeah.

[00:14:35]>> So, let's not play me. All right. I just didn't start this job yesterday, son.

[00:14:39]>> All right then. Um I think I don't want to make any statements.

[00:14:41]>> Okay.

[00:14:42]>> Turning to the interview itself. Two separate constitutional standards apply and conflating them is a common mistake in cases like this one. The first interview was conducted by a private loss prevention officer, not a government agent. Because of that, Miranda protections under Miranda versus Arizona from 1966 simply do not apply to that portion.

[00:15:05]Once the deputy takes over, a second standard applies. Routine non-custodial questioning does not require Miranda warnings either under Burkimer versus McCarti from 1984. Freedom of movement was never restrained during that questioning, and that single fact determines whether Miranda applies at all. Everything changes the moment the suspect states, quote, "I don't want to make any statements." End quote. At that exact point, the deputy immediately stops all further questioning. That is the constitutionally correct response to an invocation of the right to remain silent.

[00:15:41]>> All right. Well, um, stand up. Put your hand behind your back. You're going to be placed under arrest.

[00:15:52]>> Turn your hand. Send arrest. All right. Don't want to make it tight on you. All right.

[00:16:08]>> See, I don't have one here.

[00:16:14]>> All right. Do you have any weapons on you? Anything like that? Knives, guns, needles, anything that'll poke me? No.

[00:16:22]>> All right.

[00:16:22]>> That's the phone. That's the phone.

[00:16:23]>> Yeah.

[00:16:24]>> Okay. Did you drive here?

[00:16:25]>> Yes, I drove here.

[00:16:26]>> Okay. What keys do you have? Where's your keys?

[00:16:28]>> The keys are in the shop.

[00:16:29]>> What kind of vehicle is it?

[00:16:30]>> Uh 23 Ford Mustang.

[00:16:32]>> Okay. All right. It's parked here.

[00:16:35]>> So, I'm sure they can um they'll leave your vehicle parked here.

[00:16:38]>> Okay, that's fine.

[00:16:39]>> All right. Okay. Are those their glasses? Their work glasses?

[00:16:43]>> Yeah, the work glasses.

[00:16:44]>> Okay. I'm going to Hey, guys. His uh or not?

[00:16:47]>> His work glasses. That's for you guys.

[00:16:50]All right. You got them?

[00:16:52]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:16:53]>> Yeah. This way.

[00:16:54]>> Yep.

[00:16:57]>> Um, hey, just um secure them in your vehicle. I'm going to just talk to them real quick. All right. So, what did he divulge to you guys?

[00:17:04]>> So, he admit Christ overriding the tires, >> but he he's stating that he don't think that he did anything wrong.

[00:17:11]>> Okay. That day, he pretty much remembered everything up until the point of >> tires into his own truck. He doesn't remember that.

[00:17:19]>> Yeah. Well, the truck comes back to his mom, >> Miss Flores. Um, >> did you guys see that the credit card that he used was his? It came back to him. So, did he even >> he he declined?

[00:17:29]>> He's like, "Oh, I don't remember. I have to check my statements, my text messages."

[00:17:33]>> So, when we got to the credit card piece and the vehicle piece, he that's when he started saying he don't remember.

[00:17:37]>> Well, he know. That's why I told him I I looked at like, don't don't sit there.

[00:17:40]I'm not even going to waste my time listening to your lies. So, that's why he shut down, which is fine. I we still have enough. The guys IDed him, Connie IDed him from the video. Um, we have the credit card that comes back to him, him on video changing >> the price, >> the price, >> him loading the truck and, you know, loading the tires out. It's more than enough.

[00:18:01]>> Importantly, the prosecution's case does not actually depend on that interview at all. A credit card traced directly back to the suspect. Video footage of the price override and inventory records all independently support the charge. That independence matters because the case survives entirely without a confession, which is exactly how a well-built theft case should be constructed. On sentencing reports indicates 6 months in county jail alongside 10 years of probation. That outcome reflects a negotiated plea rather than a maximum statutory sentence. Given a 15-year statutory ceiling for seconddegree grand theft, a probationheavy sentence suggests a plea agreement or a lack of prior criminal history. Now, grading the key parties in this interaction. The deputy earns an A minus. The Miranda distinctions were handled correctly and questioning stopped the instant the suspect invoked his right to silence.

[00:19:00]However, the interview tone was informal at times, which while not a legal defect, here falls short of the polished standard this kind of interview deserves. The suspect earns a C minus.

[00:19:12]Exercising the right to remain silent was legally sound, but it came only after an evasive account the evidence had already disproven. The loss prevention officer earns an A. Her sworn statement video review and inventory reconciliation built an evidentiary record strong enough to stand on its own in court. Her documentation is in many respects the reason this case did not need to rely on any statement from the suspect at all. So if 20 tires can disappear for $20, what actually stops the next employee from trying the exact same scheme? First takeaway, manipulating a point of sales system without authorization is not just a workplace violation. It is a felony under Florida retail theft law. Second takeaway, the right to remain silent only works once you actually invoke it.

[00:20:06]Anything said before that point can still be used against you. Third takeaway, a strong criminal case rarely depends on a confession. Independent evidence like video footage and financial records is often what actually secures a conviction. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching and don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more content on police court interactions.