Ocala 7-Eleven employee arrested after allegedly stealing over $4K from store

An employee at an Ocala 7-Eleven was arrested for grand theft after surveillance footage and a co-worker’s tip allegedly linked her to the disappearance of more than $4,000 from the store.  

On Sunday, May 17, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the 7-Eleven located at 8230 SE Maricamp Road in reference to a grand theft incident. A store leader informed the deputy that a cash deposit, in the amount of $4,257, was missing from the back office, according to the arrest report.

MCSO reviewed video surveillance footage from the store, which reportedly showed that only two individuals had entered the back office during the time the theft occurred: the store leader and an employee identified as Alyaa Nafisah Ola Franks.  

Specifically, Franks was allegedly seen on the footage entering the back office and grabbing cigarette cartons on several occasions between 7:40 a.m. and 10 a.m. However, the report mentioned that at 9:22 a.m. on the morning of the incident, she entered the back office, walked out of the camera’s view, and then exited the room with “nothing in her hand.”

During the ensuing investigation, detectives interviewed another employee who stated they had been best friends with Franks since high school. The co-worker alleged that Franks admitted to stealing the deposit and hiding it in an area that was out of the security camera’s view, according to the report.  

The co-worker further alleged that on the day of the incident, they reportedly witnessed Franks retrieve the hidden cash and stuff it into the front of her pants. Franks then allegedly drove the co-worker to a local store before reportedly counting a portion of the stolen money and offering to buy the co-worker anything they wanted.

MCSO investigators determined that there was probable cause for Franks’ arrest, and she was taken into custody and booked into Marion County Jail on Tuesday, July 7. Later that same day, she was released after posting bond, and she is being charged with grand theft of property valued between $750 and $5,000.

A court date for Franks has not yet been scheduled, according to jail records.