Former Duncan store employee accused of theft

DUNCAN — A former assistant sales manager at a Duncan Dollar General Store is wanted for allegations she stole over $6,500 in merchandise while on the job.

The Stephens County District Court issued a felony arrest warrant Wednesday for Shawna Leann Conn, 27, of Duncan, for a count of larceny of merchandise from a retailer, records indicate. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Duncan Police Detective Williams Fitzhugh stated he received an embezzlement report on June 19, 2023, from the Dollar General Store district manager who believed Conn had stolen approximately $9,546.80 in merchandise between May 9 and June 16, 2023, the warrant affidavit stated.

Fitzhugh stated he received an incident narrative with Conn’s statement where she admitted to stealing $2,815.80 worth of prepaid card loads plus an additional $180 worth of merchandise. Conn said she and her boyfriend needed money due to a wreck and their insurance company’s denial of their claim, the affidavit states. An initial cash audit of the store showed the business loss for $1,935.96.

A store manager reviewed the store’s security video and found multiple examples of Conn fraudulently loading money onto her Cash App account as well as several prepaid cards, according to the affidavit. The final audit found the store lost $6,551 with a total loss of cash and merchandise of $9,546.80, Fitzhugh stated.