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Store supervisor gets 1 1/2 years for stealing

Former Bed Bath & Beyond supervisor Sophia Susana Ramos was ordered to repay $12,684.44 once she’s released from prison and begins probation

Sophia Susana Ramos.

Sophia Susana Ramos.

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A Bed Bath & Beyond store supervisor who embezzled more than $12,000 over eight months was sentenced Monday to 1 1/2 years in a state prison and ordered to repay what she stole.

Collier Circuit Judge Fred Hardt imposed the sentence after Sophia Susana Ramos, 25, of 8215 Ibis Club Drive in East Naples, pleaded no contest to scheme to defraud less than $20,000. Hardt adjudicated her guilty and also sentenced her to two years of probation once she’s released from prison, when she must begin paying $12,684.44 in restitution.

The judge gave her credit for a day served in the county jail before she posted $2,500 bond after her March 3 arrest.

Ramos faced up to five years on the third-degree felony, but was sentenced as part of a plea agreement negotiated by Assistant State Attorney Lisa Mead and Assistant Public Defender John Walsh. She had no prior felony convictions; her record involves traffic offenses.

Walsh told the judge Ramos had hoped to pay what she owed before sentencing and leave sentencing up to Hardt, but the money fell through. Although many embezzlers with no prior felony convictions often get probation, especially if they pay some restitution before pleading, Mead told the judge Bed Bath & Beyond was more concerned with punishment.

Collier County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Ramos after an investigation by the store. Arrest reports say that store officials became suspicious when the store at 5351 Airport-Pulling Road in North Naples had more coupon adjustments than the retailer’s other area stores. An electronic journal revealed Ramos was responsible for most of the coupon adjustments and as a front-end supervisor, she had access to cash registers.

She stole cash through fraudulent refunds at three cash registers using a coupon adjustment code. But each was tracked through her employee identification number, an override code she used to approve the refunds. Store officials determined she’d been embezzling as far back as August.

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What is it with Ibis Cove Drive ?
Tons of Police Beat related activity coming from there.

#1 Posted by naplestrek on July 15, 2008 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

She looke sorry........she got caught.

#2 Posted by RockfordGrad on July 15, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dummy

#3 Posted by Scorpionsting on July 15, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)



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