NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A 46-year-old woman pleaded guilty to felony embezzlement after using her position to steal thousands of dollars from a convenience store.

On Nov. 10, 2022, an employee from the company’s central office noticed that there were no deposits made for one store on three separate dates: Nov. 5-7. Upon investigation, it was revealed that Natasha Rogers, a store manager at the location, had been embezzling money from the store.

As a store manager, Rogers was responsible for making bank deposits from the previous day. On Nov. 5, 6, and 7, 2022, instead of making the deposits, Rogers embezzled the cash deposits, keeping a total of $17,765.21.

The employee who caught the missing funds was able to calculate the number missing using a sales-tracking system.

Rogers’ supervisor realized the funds were missing from the company’s bank account/

On Nov. 18, 2022, Rogers’ supervisor went to the store again while Rogers was working to confront her about the missing deposits. She insisted she had deposited the money at the bank, and Norfolk police were contacted. Investigators charged Rogers with felony embezzlement in 2024.

Rogers initially pleaded not guilty and requested to be tried by a jury. On Jan. 23, 2025, the day Rogers’ jury trial was set to begin, Rogers instead pleaded guilty as charged with no agreement to her sentence. Judge Tasha D. Scott accepted Rogers’ guilty plea and set her sentencing hearing on April 4.

“When people embezzle from their employers, they commit a double crime: They steal money, and they betray the people who have trusted them to do their jobs and take care of their work,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We were prepared to try this case to a Norfolk jury, but we are gratified to see Ms. Rogers accept responsibility for her actions. At sentencing we will seek a sentence that reflects the seriousness of what Ms. Rogers has done.”