A West Virginia distributor faces 15 criminal charges in Pennsylvania involving an alleged Little Debbie snack delivery fraud scheme. The City of Washington Police Department in Pennsylvania filed charges against James Powell of Valley Grove, West Virginia. Authorities are seeking $17,167.97 in restitution, according to a department release provided directly to FreightWaves. Powell remains in custody while undergoing extradition from West Virginia to Washington County, Pennsylvania.
Police allege Powell created fraudulent delivery invoices while working as a distributor. Those records showed Little Debbie products reaching Pennsylvania retail stores when the deliveries never occurred. Investigators also accuse him of using forged employee signatures to falsely verify receipt of merchandise. The invoices then entered the manufacturer’s central billing system.
The investigation identified Shop N’ Save, Giant Eagle and Walmart locations within Washington County, Pennsylvania. Stewart Snacks LLC operates as an independent distributor of Little Debbie snack products. Authorities allege the company reimbursed affected retailers and the manufacturer for resulting losses. Powell received commission payments for deliveries that never occurred, according to the release.
Investigation started in Ohio
The case began after Stewart Snacks reported suspected fraudulent business records and missing products. The company initially contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio. Investigators later determined that offenses occurred within Washington, Pennsylvania, and South Strabane Township, Pennsylvania. Authorities then referred the matter to the City of Washington Police Department.
Washington police conducted an extensive investigation after receiving the case. Detectives examined delivery invoices connected with several retail locations in Pennsylvania. Their findings included records that allegedly documented merchandise customers never received. Investigators also identified signatures they contend falsely confirmed those transactions.
The department consulted with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office in Pennsylvania before filing criminal charges. Powell now faces three second-degree felony counts of forgery. Prosecutors also brought two third-degree felony counts each for theft by deception and unlawful taking. Another third-degree felony accuses him of deceptive or fraudulent business practices.
Charges include forgery and theft
Seven first-degree misdemeanor counts complete the 15 charges filed against Powell in Pennsylvania. Three involve tampering with records or identification. Separate counts accuse him of theft by deception and unlawful taking. Two additional charges involve deceptive or fraudulent business practices.
Authorities later took Powell into custody in West Virginia under an arrest warrant connected with the Pennsylvania investigation. He is undergoing extradition proceedings, according to Washington police. That process would return him from West Virginia to Washington County, Pennsylvania. Powell will answer to the filed criminal charges there.
All charges remain allegations. Powell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Why it matters
Fraudulent paperwork can make a nonexistent delivery appear legitimate inside normal business systems. Verification controls can help companies identify inconsistencies before invoices, payments or commissions move through that process.
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