Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Juliza Marie Santiago Rodriguez, 30, was taken into custody early yesterday and charged with executing a scheme to defraud after scanning lower-priced item tags to “purchase” more expensive items during her night shifts at Walmart.

At approximately 2:23 a.m. on June 6, a Gainesville Police Department officer was dispatched to the Walmart at Butler Plaza (2900 SW 42nd Street). The Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) explained he had been reviewing surveillance footage for an unrelated issue overnight when he noticed Santiago Rodriguez engaging in “ticket-switching” and improperly scanning items at the checkout counters.

The LPO stated that while the store is closed at night, three cash registers remain operational for employees who stock shelves to make purchases during breaks or before leaving. He observed Santiago Rodriguez switching tickets, prompting a review that revealed 39 instances of her allegedly using a $1.97 price tag to mask more expensive items’ tags, in addition to mis-scanning several items and personally clearing error codes on the registers. The total loss amounted to $1,628.

Post Miranda, Santiago Rodriguez reportedly admitted mis-scanning items and said her husband is disabled and they are having financial problems.

Santiago Rodriguez has been charged with engaging in a scheme to defraud, a felony. She has no local criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered her released on her own recognizance.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.