Popeyes worker uses customer’s credit card to send money to inmate, FL cops say

Popeyes isn’t known as costly fast food, so a Florida woman was rightfully suspicious when her credit card was charged $311.90 at the drive-thru, investigators say.

Turns out the fee had nothing to do with fried chicken and everything to do with someone in prison, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in an April 14 news release.

“During the investigation, detectives determined the fraudulent transaction was for a commissary payment to an inmate at Apalachee Correctional Institution, West Unit, in Sneads, Florida,” the sheriff’s office said.

The charge was made March 20 at the Popeyes in Palm Coast — about a 60-mile drive south from Jacksonville — and it was traced to a 48-year-old woman who was working the drive-thru that day, the sheriff’s office said.

She was arrested April 11 and charged with fraudulent use of personal ID information, fraudulent use of a credit card (greater than $100), and unlawful use of a two-way communications device, officials said.

“The victim reported witnessing (the suspect) tapping her credit card twice: once for her drive-thru order then again to a cell phone,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Later that day, the victim found an unauthorized charge of $311.90 on her account and reported it to law enforcement.”

Investigators did not reveal the suspect’s relationship to the inmate. The Apalachee Correctional Institution, West Unit, is about a 270-mile drive northwest from Palm Coast.

Prisoners are not allowed to keep money behind bars, but cash can be provided by family members to a “commissary fund” used to buy food, toiletries and other minor needs, according to the Prison Fellowship.

“This woman thought she could get away with stealing from a customer and giving money to a state prison inmate,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the release.

“But unlucky for her, the customer was paying attention and noticed the fraudulent charge, so now (the suspect) gets to join her friend in jail. I encourage everyone to be attentive during transactions and report anything suspicious to law enforcement.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Popeyes worker uses customer’s credit card to send money to inmate, FL cops say."