Hearing for suspect in Walmart fraud case continued
The court hearing for a Texas man accused of making $1.3 million worth of fraudulent returns at more than 1,000 U.S. Walmarts – including two in Yuma – was continued Tuesday until October.
In providing the court with an update on the status of the case, attorney Fausto Falzone of the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office explained that the reason he was asking for the continuance is that the prosecutor assigned to the case is currently out of the country and won’t be back for several weeks.
Falzone, who represents 23-yearold Thomas Frudaker, added that he expects a plea offer will be made to his client when the prosecutor returns.
Frudaker remains in custody on a $100,000 bond and has been charged with fraudulent schemes and artifices and theft, which are both felonies, and one misdemeanor count of theft.
Yuma County Superior Court Judge Stephen Rouff granted Falzone’s request for a continuance and scheduled Frudaker’s next hearing as a status hearing for 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 2.
According to Yuma police, officers on June 15 responded to a report of a fraudulent transaction at the Walmart at 2501 S. Avenue B. Upon investigation, they determined that Frudaker had allegedly removed parts from a computer he had previously purchased from the Walmart and was attempting to return it.
Officers also were able to determine that Frudaker made a similar transaction on Wednesday at another Walmart located at 8151 E. 32nd St.
Frudaker, who is suspected of making $1.3 million worth of fraudulent returns at more than 1,000 Walmarts across the county over the past 18 months, was arrested and booked into the Yuma County jail.