LINCOLN, Neb. — Acting U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jabaree Mabrey, 27, of California, was sentenced August 29 in federal court in Lincoln for fraudulent use of an unauthorized access device following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City’s Omaha suboffice investigation. Senior U.S. District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Mabrey to 64 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Mabrey’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Mabrey was also ordered to pay $690,484 in restitution.
“This sentencing marks a significant victory in our ongoing fight against fraud and theft,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito. “Mabrey and his co-defendant exploited a vulnerability in Walmart’s security system, using a master key to systematically steal from stores across the country. Their actions resulted in a staggering financial loss. This case underscores HSI’s commitment alongside our law enforcement partners in holding those who engage in such deceitful and criminal behavior accountable. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect businesses and ensure that justice is served.”
In April 2023, Mabrey was identified and arrested after a co-defendant, Marlon Tigner, was arrested in Nebraska on state charges. Tigner was previously sentenced to 71 months in prison by Gerrard for the same charges.
During the investigation, it was learned that Walmart’s cash registers utilize a master key, apparently universal to all Walmart registers, regardless of location. This key is accessible only to managers and front-end supervisors. At some point, Tigner and Mabrey had come into possession of a master key and has been using that key to steal from Walmart. Documentation gathered during the investigation showed a loss of $690,484 from stores spanning from Washington state to Massachusetts and from Texas to Wisconsin attributable to Tigner and Mabrey over the last few years.
The case was prosecuted in Nebraska after Tigner was contacted on a traffic stop in Lancaster County, identified as a suspect in the nationwide thefts, and master keys were recovered from his person. Further investigation led to the identification of Mabrey as Tigner’s accomplice. Law enforcement was also able confirm that the two used the keys to steal from several Omaha Walmart stores.
This case was investigated by HSI, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department and numerous other law enforcement partners across the nation.
Learn more about HSI Kansas City’s mission to combat fraud on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSIKansasCity.