Former manager of Fairfield Family Dollar accused of stealing $44,000

By ANDY HALLMAN

Golden Triangle News Service

FAIRFIELD ? A former manager at Family Dollar in Fairfield has been accused of stealing about $44,000 from the company.

The Jefferson County Attorney?s Office has charged Amber Dawn Mellott-Smith, 34, with theft in the first degree, a Class C felony, and commission of specified unlawful activity, ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony. First-degree theft refers to theft in excess of $10,000, and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Ongoing criminal conduct carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

Mellott-Smith was terminated from Family Dollar on March 2 and was arrested on a charge of theft that same day, with a bond of $10,000. Her arraignment is scheduled for March 23.

Jefferson County Attorney Tim Dille said Family Dollar?s loss prevention unit contacted his office March 2 to file a complaint. He said the loss prevention unit discovered no deposits had been made in the company?s Fairfield account since the beginning of the year.

As manager, Mellott-Smith was in charge of making deposits from the cash register to the company?s account. Dille said the company interviewed Mellott-Smith about the absence of the deposits, and decided to terminate her and file a complaint. The company alleges about $44,000 is unaccounted for.

Dille said he doesn?t know if Family Dollar has insurance against theft. If it did, he could only ask for restitution for the money the insurance did not cover, in accordance with state law.

?If Family Dollar has insurance, I can only request restitution for out-of-pocket expenses,? he said. ?I can?t request restitution for what the insurer pays out.?

Dille explained the Class B charge for ongoing criminal conduct refers to a repeated series of crimes done for financial benefit. In this case, the attorney?s office is alleging Mellott-Smith embezzled from the company on a continuing basis during a two-month period for her own financial gain.

Family Dollar?s media relations department had not returned a request for comment by deadline. An employee at the Fairfield store said Family Dollar is keeping normal hours.