MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.—Three concession vendors working at the FIFA World Cup match between England and France at Hard Rock Stadium were arrested after investigators alleged they diverted more than $10,000 in customer payments by recording the cost of food and beverages as gratuities on credit card transactions.
The three men face felony charges of organized fraud and third-degree grand theft after the alleged scheme was uncovered during a review of concession sales at Saturday’s match, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified the suspects as Angel Matta, 38, of Miramar; Justin Samuel, 46, of Lauderdale Lakes; and Marcus Tribble, 37, of Lauderhill.
Deputies are Alerted
According to investigators, a manager with Sodexo Live, the company operating concession stands during World Cup matches at the stadium, alerted deputies after noticing an unusual pattern in credit card transactions. The manager reported that instead of charging customers for food and beverages, the vendors allegedly entered the purchases as gratuities, allowing customers to receive the merchandise while the money was recorded as tips payable to the employees.
How Transactions Were Traced
Investigators said each vendor used a point-of-sale device assigned exclusively to that employee for the duration of a shift and accessed the device using a unique login credential, making it possible to trace individual transactions.
The manager’s review allegedly found the same pattern across all six FIFA World Cup matches worked by the three employees, with what investigators described as “astronomically high” credit card tip percentages. Authorities said the total amount improperly diverted through the alleged scheme was $10,138.
The three suspects were arrested and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Each was being held on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.
Other Fraud Investigations
The arrests are among several fraud-related cases investigated by South Florida authorities during the World Cup, as law enforcement agencies have increased security and financial crime enforcement around one of the world’s largest sporting events. Earlier in the tournament, authorities arrested individuals accused of using fraudulent credentials to gain unauthorized access to the stadium and charging spectators for entry.
