By MONA NAIR
6 News Reporter
BEAN STATION (WATE) – Authorities have uncovered a scam where more than a million dollars worth was stolen from Walmart stores in the region.
They say the counterfeit scheme was operating out of a home in the small town of Bean Station.
That is, the scheme operated until the Secret Service and various other agencies caught onto the crime.
Grainger County Sheriff Scott Layel believes it was a well-planned scheme and that the criminals had training.
"It was enormous. It's hard to comprehend a million dollar scheme. You had suspects with elaborate machines and payroll check software," Sheriff Layel said.
He says there were at least two people in the home using advanced equipment to print false payroll checks.
"What they would do is take them to Sam's Club in Knoxville," Layel said, explaining how the scam worked. He says they'd use the checks to buy gift cards at Sam's Club, then head to Walmart stores across the region.
With purchases averaging $2,500, authorities believe the criminals were buying TVs, jewelry and other big ticket items. They would then sell the items online, Layel said.
When the scam crossed the million dollar mark, investigators from Walmart and the Secret Service flew in.
At the rural home in Bean Station they found a stash of brand new Walmart purchases and two people they think are behind it all.
Several guns and marijuana were also found on the property.
"They did have a good setup and they were good at what they did. In my opinion, they had been trained well," Layel said.
Sheriff Layel thinks that because of the kind of training the criminals likely had, they could be part of a larger crime ring operating nationally.
That possibility is also being looked at by the feds. In the meantime, Sheriff Layel waiting on a federal indictment on the two people suspected in the Bean Station operation.
the counterfeit scheme was operating out of a home in the small town of Bean Station.
