Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — A South Jordan man who oversaw loss prevention for a major department store faces federal charges for allegedly stealing merchandise and selling it online.
From September 2009 to May 2010, David J. Ellis and his direct supervisor, identified in court documents as J.C., allegedly stole items from various Kohl's stores in the Salt Lake area. Ellis worked as a loss prevention supervisor and J.C. as the district auditor and later as the district loss prevention manager, court records show.
A felony complaint in U.S. District Court contends the two men "abused their positions" by taking electric shavers, vacuums, cameras, irons, food processors, watches, GPS devices, kitchen mixers, televisions, camcorders, margarita makers, shoes, bedding, digital frames and coffee makers.
"They removed the merchandise under the pretext that they were authorized by Kohl's to do so as part of their responsibilities as loss prevention officers and were thus able to conceal their thefts from Kohl's and other Kohl's employees," according to court records. Ellis and J.C. then allegedly sold the products on eBay.
Ellis is charged with wire fraud and aiding and abetting. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 29. J.C. is not listed as defendant in the court document.
Email:dromboy@ksl.com
