NEWS BRIEF
A 22-year-old assistant manager at the Finley Avenue Ace Hardware was arrested after the store owner discovered nearly $8,000 missing through a series of fraudulent returns. Justin Johnson allegedly created fake sales and used his smartphone to funnel refund money into his personal account over a nine-day period. Johnson, who quit abruptly the day before the report was filed, now faces multiple felony charges for grand theft and scheme to defraud.
Former Assistant Manager Arrested in $7,800 Refund Fraud Scheme
By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published April 28th, 2026
DAVENPORT, FL – A grand theft investigation at a local Ace Hardware has led to the arrest of a former assistant manager accused of using his position to funnel nearly $8,000 into his personal bank account.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office took Justin Johnson, 22, into custody following a report from the store owner at 1218 Finley Ave. The owner contacted authorities on Monday, April 27, after noticing a string of high-dollar refunds that didn't add up.
The Paper Trail
According to investigators, the fraudulent activity took place over a nine-day span between April 18 and April 26, 2026. The store owner’s internal audit revealed several suspicious transactions ranging from $400 to $1,500.
Detectives say Johnson’s method was as bold as it was systematic:
Fabricated Sales: Johnson allegedly created fake sales records.
Instant Returns: He then processed returns for those non-existent items at his register.
Digital Transfer: During the refund process, Johnson reportedly used his phone at the payment terminal to redirect the funds—totaling $7,897.81—into his private account.
The scheme came to an abrupt halt when Johnson unexpectedly resigned from his position on Sunday, April 26.
 |
| Justin Johnson, 22 / PCSO |
Surveillance footage from the store confirmed Johnson was the sole employee handling each of the flagged transactions. Following his arrest, Johnson was hit with multiple third-degree felony charges:
- Grand Theft ($5k - $10k): 3rd Degree Felony
- Defraud to Obtain Property (Under $20k): 3rd Degree Felony
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd praised the business owner's vigilance and the rapid response of his deputies.
"This was a clear case of an employee abusing his position for personal gain," Sheriff Judd said in a statement. "I’m proud of the quick work by our deputies and grateful to the business owner who reported the suspicious activity. We will always stand with our local businesses and hold offenders accountable."
Johnson is currently being processed through the Polk County judicial system.
_____
iSkyNews.com | Trusted Local Coverage — Safety Creator and Contributing Journalist for Citizen
📲 Join and follow iSkyNews on Citizen: https://go.citizen.com/iskynews
Follow iSkyNews.com for breaking news, public safety updates, and community alerts across Florida and Arizona.
💬 See something we missed?
If you spot an error or have additional information, please reach out: support@iskynews.com
© 2026 iSkyNews.com — All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, copying, or redistribution of this content is strictly prohibited.
.jpeg)
0 Comments