WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — April 16, 2025 — A Lakeland woman is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $13,700 through a refund fraud scheme at her place of employment, NAPA Auto Parts in Winter Haven.
According to Winter Haven Police, Tiffany Johnson, 39, was arrested after an internal investigation uncovered 54 fraudulent transactions dating back to August 2024. Johnson, an employee at the store, reportedly used the store’s system to process false refunds, directing the money to four different credit cards—all linked to her.
Authorities say the scheme was discovered after another employee alerted the store’s loss prevention team, prompting a review of surveillance footage and transaction logs. The footage revealed Johnson using store invoices to initiate fake refunds and tapping her own card to receive the funds.
The total amount stolen through the scam was $13,769.21, divided among four cards in amounts of $7,173.10, $3,067.90, $529.78, and $2,998.43.
During questioning, Johnson admitted to learning the process from another NAPA employee out of state and said she conducted the refunds roughly every other week over several months. She confirmed that the funds went directly to her.
Johnson was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail, charged with Grand Theft (F3) and Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3). She is currently awaiting further legal proceedings.
