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Owner of four grocery stores faces charges in alleged coupon scam

Post-Gazette

Owner of four grocery stores faces charges in alleged coupon scam

The owner of four area Shop 'n Save grocery stores was charged Wednesday with a variety of crimes in relation to what detectives called a longstanding coupon clipping scheme that netted participants more than $300,000 in inappropriate reimbursements.

According to a complaint and affidavit filed by the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, Michael John Mihelic, 59, of Franklin Park, ordered employees to clip coupons from newspapers, collect them and turn them in to manufacturers as if they had been used by customers. The coupons were submitted even though corresponding sales of the products had not occurred, detectives contend.

Mr. Mihelic is the owner of the Rochester Road, Pines Plaza, Glenshaw and Richland Mall Shop 'n Save stores, according to the affidavit. He faces charges of dealing in proceeds of illegal activity, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.

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According to the affidavit, a former employee of Shop 'n Save on Rochester Road in Ross reported to detectives that for years, the ownership and store managers had collected coupons from newspapers that had not been sold. Managers were ordered to clip several hundred dollars worth of coupons per week, according to detectives.

Detectives conducted several interviews, then joined local police in executing search warrants on the stores on Oct. 17. They have calculated that $306,550 in additional coupons were submitted through a processing company to product manufacturers for reimbursement, they wrote in the affidavit.

Mr. Mihelic could not be reached Wednesday at his home or stores.

Rich Lord: rlord@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542.

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First Published: February 13, 2019, 6:01 p.m.

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