Ex-Chick-fil-A Worker Charged in $80,000 Mac-and-Cheese Refund Scam

Key facts

• Keyshun Jones, 23, charged with property theft, money laundering, and evading arrest.
• Allegedly refunded $80,105 worth of mac-and-cheese trays to his personal credit cards.
• Incident occurred in November 2025 at a Chick-fil-A in Grapevine, Texas.
• Jones had been fired a month before the alleged fraud, in October 2025.
• Surveillance footage showed him behind the counter using the register.
• He evaded arrest multiple times before being apprehended on April 17, 2026.
• Arrest made by Texas Attorney General's Fugitive Task Force and Fort Worth Police.
• Jones held in Green Bay prison, Fort Worth, with a $110,000 bond.

The Alleged Scheme

A former Chick-fil-A employee in Texas has been accused of defrauding the fast-food chain of more than $80,000 by refunding hundreds of catering-sized mac-and-cheese orders to his own credit cards. The Grapevine Police Department said the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Keyshun Jones, was fired in October 2025 but returned to the store a month later and went behind the counter. Using the restaurant's point-of-sale system, Jones allegedly rang up 800 trays of mac-and-cheese and then issued refunds totaling $80,105 to his personal accounts. The catering menu lists a large tray at around $100, and each tray contains nearly 10,000 calories.

Surveillance Evidence and Investigation

The franchise owner alerted detectives on November 29, 2025, after discovering the theft. Surveillance footage showed a man in a brown puffer vest, blue jeans, and a backwards white cap — not the chain's red polo uniform — using the register behind the service counter. Police said the man was unattended behind the counter. The owner identified the man as Jones and told police his direct deposit had been set up through Navy Federal Credit Union before his termination. The reason for his firing in October remains unclear.

Arrest and Charges

Jones evaded arrest multiple times before being finally apprehended on April 17, 2026, in a joint operation by the Texas Attorney General's Fugitive Task Force and the Fort Worth Police Department. He was charged with property theft, money laundering, and evading arrest. He is currently held in custody at Green Bay prison in Fort Worth, Texas, with a bond set at $110,000. His lawyer declined to comment, according to court records.

The Stolen Sum and Its Scale

The total amount refunded, $80,105, corresponds to 800 catering trays of mac-and-cheese. Each large tray costs approximately $100 depending on location. The dish, made with three types of cheese, contains nearly 10,000 calories per tray. The scale of the fraud — 800 orders — suggests a systematic effort to exploit the refund system over a short period. Police did not specify how many transactions were involved, but the total sum represents a significant loss for the franchise.

Background and Open Questions

It remains unknown why Jones was fired in October 2025, a month before the alleged fraud. The franchise owner had set up Jones's direct deposit through Navy Federal Credit Union, indicating he was a former employee with access to the store's financial systems. The Chick-fil-A media office has been contacted for comment but has not responded. The Grapevine Police Department also did not provide further details on the investigation.

Legal Proceedings and Next Steps

Jones faces three felony charges: property theft, money laundering, and evading arrest. His bond of $110,000 suggests the court considers him a flight risk. He remains in custody at the Tarrant County jail. The case highlights vulnerabilities in point-of-sale systems and the importance of terminating system access promptly after an employee's dismissal. No court date has been announced yet.

The bottom line

• A former Chick-fil-A employee allegedly stole $80,105 by refunding 800 mac-and-cheese trays to his credit cards.
• The suspect, Keyshun Jones, was fired a month before the incident; reason unknown.
• Surveillance footage captured him using the register without a uniform.
• He evaded arrest for months before being caught on April 17, 2026.
• Charges include property theft, money laundering, and evading arrest; bond set at $110,000.
• The case underscores security gaps in employee access to refund systems.