Former Maverik Employee in Idaho Faces Multiple Grand Larceny Charges After Alleged Cash Refund Scheme
A 29-year-old woman from the Ririe area is facing serious felony charges after investigators say she exploited her position as a convenience store employee to steal nearly $760 from a Maverik gas station through a series of fraudulent cash refund transactions.
Maria Carillo faces three felony counts of grand larceny and three misdemeanor counts of petit theft in connection with an alleged theft scheme that spanned nearly a month. If convicted on all counts, she could face up to 45 years in prison. Carillo is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
How Investigators Say the Scheme Worked
According to court documents, a detective with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was assigned on January 13 to investigate a series of thefts at the Maverik located at 110 West Ririe Highway. The company’s own asset protection team had already identified Carillo — who had since been fired from the store — as a possible suspect.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the store’s camera system, which allegedly captured Carillo completing cash transactions and then issuing cash refunds before pocketing the money. Court records indicate the theft activity occurred over a period from November 24 to December 22, with transactions totaling $759.90.
Among the specific incidents documented in court records, one return processed by Carillo involved $109 in cash. On December 20, a coworker reportedly confronted Carillo about $66 in cash back that had been refunded. Carillo allegedly told the coworker the discrepancy may have been the result of customers choosing the cash back option at checkout. That same day, court documents show, Carillo processed an additional refund of $73.98.
The investigation underscores how internal asset protection systems at retail and fuel businesses can serve as an effective first line of defense against employee theft — flagging irregular transaction patterns before the losses grow significantly larger.
Arrest and Upcoming Court Appearance
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Carillo on March 27. She was taken into custody on April 13. Booking records show she was held at the Jefferson County Jail.
Carillo is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Trent Belnap for a preliminary hearing on May 28. At that proceeding, a judge will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to move the case forward to trial.
The charges Carillo faces — three felony counts of grand larceny and three misdemeanor counts of petit theft — reflect the seriousness with which Idaho law treats repeated theft by employees entrusted with handling cash transactions. Grand larceny in Idaho is a felony that carries significant prison time, and multiple counts can compound sentencing exposure substantially.
Employee theft remains a persistent concern for small businesses and retail operators across Southeast Idaho and the broader state. When employees abuse positions of trust to manipulate refund systems or pocket cash, the financial burden ultimately falls on business owners and, in the case of larger chains, is reflected in operational costs passed on to consumers.
For more on Idaho courts and crime coverage, visit Idaho News for statewide updates. Local readers can also follow ongoing criminal proceedings, including the trial set for a man charged with the murder and kidnapping of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan, on Bannock County News and across the Idaho News Network.
What Comes Next
Carillo’s preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Trent Belnap is scheduled for May 28. At that point, the court will evaluate the evidence presented by the prosecution to determine whether probable cause supports moving the case to the district court level for trial. Bannock County News will continue to follow developments in this case as proceedings advance.