KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two Knoxville entrepreneurs face theft charges, accused of stealing from a gift shop owner for whom they once worked.
A Knox County grand jury returned the indictments earlier this month against Jacob B. Price, 34, and Erica Price, 33. They're charged in a two-count indictment alleging theft of between $10,000 and $60,000 and a Tennessee Computer Act violation, records state.
The victim is identified as George B. Cribbs III, formerly of Knoxville and now of Celebration, Fla.
Efforts to reach the Prices were unsuccessful Tuesday.
The Prices have an interest in the Wrenhouse Bakery shops, including one on Tazewell Pike. Jacob Price, a former Disney cast member, bakes. Erica Price, a designer, also runs a website that sells merchandise she's created designs for.
Both businesses have an active social media presence. Both are big Disney enthusiasts, their social media shows.
In March, former Knoxvillian Cribbs spoke to Knoxville Police Department about thefts. He formerly operated a business on Tazewell Pike, records state.
Florida records show he is the registered agent for an LLC called "Sharing Magical Moments".
According to a report he made, the Prices, who are former employees, "embezzled approximately $43,000".
"They did this by ordering items on his company debit card through Amazon, and having the items delivered to their addresses," the report states. "Mr. Cribbs stated this occurred at a gift shop business he owned in Knoxville during this time, but has since moved to and now lives in Florida."
The report states the thefts appeared to have occurred from February 2020 to June 2021. The indictment against the Prices, however, states the thefts occurred from February 2020 to June 2023 in Knox County.
According to the report, Cribbs first reported the alleged thefts to authorities in Central Florida, "and the investigation determined the suspects had used his card as described above."
The case was then forwarded to Knoxville police for follow-up.
Cribbs is listened as a witness in the case, as are custodians of record for Amazon.com, the University of Tennessee, Regions Bank and Google.