Arrest affidavits show Carmelo Daniel Amigleo and Ryan Munoz created fake winning transactions, took cash from registers and pocketed the money.
SAN ANGELO, Texas — UPDATE (12:31 p.m. Aug. 7): The San Angelo Police Department says Zkel Deshon Grant, 21, was arrested Aug. 7, in reference to the Walmart case from July 27, 2024. Grant's bond was set at $350,000.
An arrest affidavit for Grant states an SAPD detective spoke with co-defendant Carmelo Daniel Amigleo, who told them another Walmart employee, Zkel Grant, also created fraudulent winning lottery transactions, sometimes alone and sometimes with Amigleo and Munoz.
Walmart Global Investigator Clint Lee told the detective he reviewed Walmart CCTV and reviewed the secure database computer platform, which showed Grant making the fake transactions, then pocketing cash or transferring funds onto a debit card in his name. Lee said those transactions were between $10 and $1,500.
Some of the transactions started out as legitimate customer winning lottery transactions, but according to the affidavit, Grant would key in a different dollar amount at the Walmart register. In some instances, Grant would take winning tickets, not scan them into the Texas Lottery terminal, then keep the winning ticket after paying out a customer.
For example, according to the affidavit, on Feb. 18, 2024, a legitimate customer had winnings for $110, but Grant keyed in $310 for a loss to the store of $200, that he then pocketed.
Lee said Grant took approximately $76,165 from Feb. 18, 2024, to April 28, 2024, and that amount was only what was calculated within that particular time frame.
Grant left Walmart April 29, 2024, "to pursue other job opportunities."
On Aug. 2, 2024, Amigleo told the detective he "was taught the lottery fraud scheme to steal money from Walmart," by Grant and he watched Grant on several occasions when took money from the register after completing fraudulent lottery transactions.
The incident is still currently under investigation and more information will be released at it becomes available.
UPDATE (4:15 p.m. July 29): Arrest affidavits for Carmelo Daniel Amigleo, 18, and Ryan Munoz, 18, say the two were employed at the Walmart Neighborhood Market, 1852 Sherwood Way.
Credit: Tom Green County Jail
On July 18, 2024, San Angelo Police Department Det. C. Barker received a call from Walmart Global Investigator Clint Lee saying Walmart corporate was investigating fraudulent lottery ticket redemptions. Lee told Barker through an investigation, Amigleo and Munoz were creating fake winning transactions, taking cash from the registers and pocketing it, sometimes transferring the funds to debit cards they kept.
Lee told Barker video surveillance from the store and secure database platform reviews showed the two creating the fake winning transactions and pocketing most winnings in cash between $300-500 at a time.
Amigleo was Operator #52 and Munoz was Operator #55, according to the affidavits. All surveillance videos showed only Operators 52 and 55 making fraudulent lottery transactions.
Lee said the transactions happened between Jan. 1, 2024, and July 4, 2024 and the amount taken was $747,933. He told Barker that was only what had been calculated within that specific timeframe, but an expanded search showed even more had been stolen.
On April 23, 2024, Amigleo and Munoz bought two 2024 Kawasaki dirt bikes from Family PowerSports. Sales manager Jonathan George told Barker he remembered the transactions and produced the sales receipts for the bikes. Amigleo bought a new bike for $6,737.22 cash. Munoz bought a new bike for $8,602.12 cash.
At Munoz's home, Barker saw a Chevrolet Camaro, ran the plates and saw it was bought from a used car dealership, Pee Wee Cray Fairly Reliable Used Cars, in Weatherford. Barker contacted the owner, who told him Munoz paid $32,500 cash for the car on Jan. 9, 2024.
When Barker watched the video footage of the customer service desk at the Walmart location, he saw both men "in care and control of the customer service desk which holds access to the lottery terminal maintained by Walmart", the affidavits said. He saw both Amigleo and Munoz conducting the fake winning transactions and either pocketing the money or transferring funds to their debit cards.
The investigation is ongoing.
ORIGINAL STORY:Two 18-year-old men have been arrested after San Angelo Police Department detectives identified them as suspects in a suspected large-scale theft operation netting more than $1M stolen.
At a media conference Monday morning, SAPD Chief Travis Griffith said the department has made significant progress in the ongoing investigation.
Detectives have been working tirelessly to gather evidence and find all involved suspects, leading to the identification and arrest of two primary suspects: Carmelo D. Amigleo, 18, and Ryan Munoz, 18, both of San Angelo.
The investigation started Tuesday, July 23, when SAPD detectives were notified of an alleged large-scale and ongoing theft at the Walmart Neighborhood Market 1852 Sherwood Way.
Since then, multiple detectives have dedicated their efforts to bring them to justice and put an end to their criminal activities.
Preliminary findings show approximately $1M has been stolen from the store over the course of the past year. Arrest warrants were issued for both Amigleo and Munoz, leading to their arrests.
On Sunday, July 28, detectives executed two search warrants at San Angelo homes, resulting in the discovery of various pieces of evidence and proceeds related to the crime.
Bond has been set at $350,000 for both Amigleo and Munoz.
The SAPD encourages anyone with any information about this case to contact Concho Valley Crime Stoppers at 325-658- HELP to remain anonymous.
Griffith said the investigation is ongoing.
July 29, 2024 SAPD Chief Travis Griffith says two arrests were made connection with a theft case of more than $1M. Follow for more information.#sanangelo #westtexas #FOXWestTexas #FOXWTX #travisgriffith #police #department #press #conference
Posted by FOX West Texas on Monday, July 29, 2024
