Little Debbie delivery driver sold snacks at flea markets, submitted fake invoices
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. - A Little Debbie delivery driver allegedly sold snacks at flea markets, then submitted fake invoices to make it seem stores had purchased the products.
According to CBS News, 39-year-old James Powell of Valley Grove, West Virginia, was taken into custody after the City of Washington Police launched an investigation into alleged theft and fraud involving a Little Debbie snack delivery driver.
Per the report, the department was contacted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office regarding an investigation involving a former employee of Stewart Snacks, LLC, which is based in Richmond, Ohio. When speaking to law enforcement, the business owner said that while Powell was an employee, he allegedly transported, delivered, stocked and serviced Little Debbie products at various retail locations throughout Washington County, Pennsylvania.
Police said distributors would deliver the products to stores, then submit invoices, which the businesses would then pay, per CBS. Investigators added that the suspect was paid on a commission basis and, at the end of each week, was paid based on how many snacks he sold within his assigned territory.
During the investigation, law enforcement reportedly uncovered fraudulent invoices submitted to stores, including Giant Eagle, Walmart and Shop 'n Save, totaling more than $13,300 from July to September 2025, per the report. Investigators also discovered that Powell had allegedly been selling products for cash from his delivery vehicle at flea markets, then submitting fake invoices indicating the products had been delivered.
Per the report, Powell allegedly collected more than $3,700 in commissions, bringing the total loss to more than $17,100.
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Nashville Flea Market looks to reverse declining revenue
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Flea Market has been a Fairgrounds tradition for more than 50 years, but fewer vendors and shoppers are starting to take a toll on its bottom line.
“Our first market was in May of 1969; we are really proud of that fact,” Executive Director of Nashville Fairgrounds, Laura Womack, said.
For more than five decades, the Nashville Flea Market has brought thousands of shoppers to The Fairgrounds in search of unique finds.
“You never know what you’re going to find,” Womack said. “So people with all sorts of interests can come, and our vendors are so good at kind of adapting to today’s trends.”
The flea market currently has about 100 long-term vendors and 60 to 80 new vendors. However, recent financial reports show the market isn’t drawing the same numbers it once did.
Board of Fair Commissioners said declining attendance, fewer vendors, the loss of a market date during January’s ice storm, and the end of a booth rent assistance program have all affected revenue.
“We actually would rather provide the service of being a [winter] shelter for people, and we will make up our losses with the flea market,” Chair of Nashville Fair Board of Commissioners, Jasper Hendricks, said.
Metro Finance reports the flea market has brought in an additional 87 cents for every dollar spent. Although officials say some revenue from June has yet to be counted.
As of May, the market showed a positive balance of $270,940, according to Womack.
Now the focus is on bringing more people through the gates.
“The more variety of merchandise we can offer, the more customers come, and then the more customers come, the more people are interested in taking the time to commit to vending with us,” Womack explained.
“We try to sort of double advertise and say, ‘Hey, if you come in for this event, also know that we’re having this [event] over here, you know as well,'” Hendricks said. “And so there is obviously more foot traffic.”
Commissioners are expanding their reach by pairing the flea market with other events at The Fairgrounds, offering discounted multi-month booth packages, and developing a program to recruit younger entrepreneurs.
“We’re getting a lot of people coming to campus who have never been here,” Womack said. “Always the challenge is how do you market to the new Nashvillians who may not know The Fairgrounds and all the events that we have to offer. But we’re trying a diverse way to get that message out.”
The goal isn’t just to increase traffic, but to build a market that can support itself for years to come.
“We have diversified our revenue stream within the flea market,” Hendricks said. “So that way we can eventually be self-sustaining. So that way we won’t take money from the budget, but we will continue to put money into the county budget.”
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