A San Francisco woman was found guilty in federal court of stealing merchandise at a Walgreens — all the while faking a COVID-19 diagnosis and coughing on employees.
Carmelita Barela, 36, entered the Walgreens by the Civic Center with another female accomplice in April 2020 without masks but holding empty bags, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. As a store manager offered to help Barela and the unnamed woman, the latter began coughing without covering her mouth.
The two began to cough even louder, grabbing goods and stuffing them into their bags, after the manager asked them to leave if they were sick, the Department of Justice said. Once they were ordered to leave, they reportedly told the manager, “We have COVID.”
The manager and a security guard did not want to approach the two women, who reportedly fled the store with $90 worth of items.
Barela was convicted of robbery affecting interstate commerce and faces a sentence of up to 20 years and $250,000 in fines.
“This conviction demonstrates that those who seek to exploit the pandemic … will be held accountable,” said acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds in a statement.
“People working in grocery stores and convenience stores were risking going to work so the rest of us could get the food and medicine we needed,” said FBI Special Agent Craig Fair. “The FBI has remained committed to this case to protect the essential workers in our community.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.