Kayricka Wortham, Amazon Fraud, Georgia 2022

ATLANTA, GA – Greed and betrayal within the ranks of Amazon have led to the guilty pleas of two former managers in a staggering $10 million fraud scheme. Kayricka Wortham, 31, of Atlanta, and Demetrius Hines, 35, of Smyrna, Georgia, admitted to systematically defrauding their employer over a nearly two-year period, funneling millions into their pockets and indulging in a lavish lifestyle fueled by stolen funds.

The pair exploited their positions – Wortham as an Operations Manager and Hines as a Loss Prevention Multi-Site Lead – at Amazon’s Smyrna, Georgia warehouse and other company sites. Ironically, Hines was tasked with preventing loss, while actively participating in a scheme that drained the company of nearly $9.4 million. According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, the scheme involved submitting over $10 million in bogus invoices for fictitious vendors.

Wortham, identified as the ringleader, allegedly instructed subordinates to enter fake vendor information into Amazon’s system. She then approved these fraudulent accounts, allowing invoices to be submitted and payments directed to bank accounts controlled by her and her co-conspirators. Hines assisted by providing personal information of unwitting individuals to be used as fake vendor contacts. The scheme ran from approximately August 2020 to March 2022, a sustained and calculated effort to enrich themselves at Amazon’s expense.

The spoils of their crime were not modest. Investigators discovered the duo spent the $9.4 million in fraudulent proceeds on a breathtaking array of luxury items. Wortham and Hines splurged on high-end real estate, including a Smyrna residence purchased with over $900,000 in stolen funds. Their fleet of vehicles included a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a 2021 Dodge Durango, a 2022 Tesla Model X, a 2018 Porsche Panamera, and a Kawasaki ZX636 motorcycle. Expensive jewelry completed the picture of their ill-gotten gains.

The U.S. Secret Service, leading the investigation, highlighted the sophistication of the scheme and the difficulty in uncovering it. Special Agent in Charge Steven Baisel stated that the defendants “attempted to hide their scheme in plain sight,” but Secret Service investigators were able to “uncover illicit financial schemes, regardless of attempts to evade law enforcement.” The agency’s expertise in financial crimes proved crucial in dismantling the operation.

As part of their plea agreements, Kayricka Wortham (also known as “Kayricka Dupree” and “Kayricka Young”) will forfeit over $2.7 million in seized funds, the Smyrna residence, and all five luxury vehicles. Demetrius Hines will forfeit more than $600,000 in seized funds. Sentencing dates have not been announced, but both defendants face significant prison time for their brazen and costly betrayal of Amazon.

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