Best Buy worker used manager’s code to get 99% off MacBooks, cops say

A Florida employee of Best Buy has been charged with fraud after reportedly exploiting a manager's code to secure massive discounts on nearly 150 items, which he then sold or pawned. The investigation began when the store's management noted unusual sales patterns in December 2024, according to a report from an ABC News affiliate in West Palm Beach. The employee, identified as 36-year-old Matthew Lettera, stands accused of making 97 purchases at discounted rates for himself and facilitating 52 additional sales for others. Some MacBooks were marked down by an astonishing 99 percent, as reported by a local CW affiliate. The total financial loss to Best Buy from this fraudulent scheme exceeded $118,000. Lettera's LinkedIn profile indicates he began his career at Best Buy in January 2020, transitioning from a previous role in culinary training. According to an arrest affidavit from the Palm Beach Police Department, the alleged fraudulent activity commenced in March 2024, roughly four years into his tenure as an “experience manager.” As Lettera’s confidence grew, he reportedly executed numerous heavily discounted transactions that went undetected for several months, even enlisting coworkers to assist in the scheme. Unfortunately for him, he misjudged the vigilance of Best Buy's management, who eventually sought to recover the lost merchandise. Authorities apprehended Lettera after tracking down some of the discounted MacBooks at local pawn shops. The pawn shops, cooperating with the investigation, provided sales records that pointed to Lettera's involvement in the illicit sales, revealing how he manipulated the store's discount system for personal gain.