Former CVS Employee Pleads Guilty To Stealing Over $2 Million Dollars Worth Of Diabetic Test Strips

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Antonio Rivera, 35, of Williamsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that since February 2007, the defendant was employed as a Senior Assistant Purchasing Associate for CVS Pharmacy. This position required Rivera to order a variety of retail products sold by CVS, including diabetic test strips.

In July, 2018, CVS's internal systems red flagged the purchasing of diabetic test strips at a CVS located in Rochester, NY. A package located in the store’s shipping area did not have a CVS label, included Rivera’s return address, and came from a company with which CVS does not do business. A subsequent internal investigation by CVS determined that Rivera routinely purchased diabetic test strips in excessive amounts, well over the need for that CVS location. The audit could not account for 20,203 boxes purchased by Rivera, for a total financial loss of approximately $2,535,307.62.

The defendant ordered the excessive amounts of diabetic test strips and then intercepted the shipments once they arrived. He then sold the stolen product to a third party located in the State of Florida. A forensic accounting of Rivera’s bank accounts identified payments for the fraudulently obtained diabetic test strips that were deposited into the defendant’s bank accounts.

“While business owners hate to think that their employees would steal from them, employee theft is, unfortunately, not that uncommon,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy.  “What does stand out in this instance, however, is the brazenness and extent of the fraud.”

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the New York State Department of Financial Services, under the direction of Superintendent Linda Lacewell.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2019, before Judge Wolford.