Store employee accused of giving away merchandise

The Struthers man will be arraigned today.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Police charged a Struthers man with theft after they say he gave away merchandise and bogus refunds while working at a chain retail store.

Isaiah Szabo, 48, of Washington Street, had been employed as the assistant manager at the Family Dollar store on McCartney Road, but he resigned after his arrest. He will be arraigned on the charge today in Youngstown Municipal Court.

A regional loss-prevention employee for Family Dollar told police Wednesday that he discovered there was about $2,000 in merchandise losses and an additional $500 in bogus refunds at the store dating back to Aug. 18.

A store manager told police he witnessed Szabo, via video-surveillance recordings, make fraudulent transactions and give out free merchandise.

Szabo, according to police, wrote out a voluntary confession to the theft and asked the store manager if he could avoid criminal prosecution by making restitution. His request was denied.

Szabo told police that customers with whom he is familiar threatened him with physical harm and death if he did not allow them to take items that were not paid for and make bogus return transactions.