CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne police have charged convenience store employee Shy-Ray M. Strickland with felony theft of more than $7,400 in cash and merchandise, allegedly at the urging of a man posing as a YouTube influencer.
According to a police affidavit, the theft was first reported Oct. 31 by a Loaf N’ Jug manager. Strickland returned to work on Nov. 5, prompting the manager to alert authorities.
Strickland told police that her boyfriend, pretending to be “famous YouTube influencer Sam Goldbach,” gave her a $30,000 check that she cashed. The boyfriend then encouraged her to steal $4,000 in Apple gift cards from the store, which she reportedly sent to him. Afterward, he stopped responding.
The affidavit notes that Strickland did not report the incident herself and did not initially realize she had been scammed.
She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
