Ben Thomas III, a former employee of Williams-Sonoma, has been indicted for defrauding the company of more than $10 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. The 48-year-old from Georgia faces eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering.
Thomas allegedly created a fictitious company, Empire Logistics Services, which billed Williams-Sonoma for services that were never rendered. The indictment claims he used the illicit funds to finance a luxurious lifestyle, including purchasing a yacht, several vehicles, tickets to sporting events, pet cloning, a sprawling 12,000-square-foot home, and professional landscaping services.
Serving as the general manager at a Williams-Sonoma distribution hub in Braselton, Georgia, from 2016 to 2023, Thomas reportedly submitted hundreds of invoices under Empire’s name. Each invoice was approved under his $50,000 limit, allowing him to make 335 payments totaling $10 million to an account he controlled.
“The defendant is charged with enriching himself by cheating his employer, a publicly traded company,” stated U.S. Attorney Ramsey. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to rooting out fraud in this District and ensuring that those who abuse positions of trust and authority are held accountable.”
Thomas is set to appear in federal court in San Francisco on October 1.
