Ben Thomas III, a former general manager at Williams Sonoma's distribution facility in Georgia, has been indicted for allegedly defrauding the company of over $10 million through a fraudulent staffing operation. Thomas, 48, is charged with eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering for setting up a fake company, Empire Logistics Services, which billed Williams Sonoma for non-existent services from 2017 to 2023. The indictment alleges that he made 335 payments, each under his $50,000 approval limit, to enrich himself, spending the funds on luxury items including a yacht, automobiles, and pet cloning. U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey emphasized the commitment to prosecuting those who abuse positions of trust. Thomas is set to appear in federal court on October 1, facing potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison for the fraud charges. His case underscores ongoing efforts to combat corporate fraud in the district.