The employee, who has a personal videography and photography business, told the executive that Rivera paid him to film a Bar Mitzvah for her friend after a same-day cancelation. He said he “immediately knew it was shady,” the affidavit says.
Rivera’s colleague further alleged that Rivera used American Express points to fly him and his wife out to an employee’s wedding that he photographed. After asking Rivera multiple times if it was OK, Rivera claimed the company had extra points so it wasn’t an issue, the affidavit says.
On June 11, SMB put Rivera on administrative leave, pending the results of an audit. Rivera contacted HR a few days later and asked if they could “just fire her as the waiting is adding stress,” the affidavit says.
Auditors found Rivera spent more than $25,000 on a vacation for herself, family members and friends. Flights to the Bahamas worth over $9,000 were booked for August.
Nearly $24,000 in unauthorized Amazon purchases were also discovered.