Former Fred Meyer Employee Pleads Guilty to $60K Theft for Gambling

Rainbow Melodi Stammet, a former employee at Fred Meyer in Oregon City, pleaded guilty to stealing more than $60,000 from the retailer to support her gambling addiction, primarily spending the stolen cash on video poker. Stammet, who had worked at the store for about two years, was caught in March 2023 after loss prevention officers observed her taking cash from a self-checkout station. The thefts reportedly occurred between May 2022 and January 2023, though Fred Meyer officials could not determine the exact total stolen. As part of a plea deal, Stammet was convicted on multiple theft charges while other charges were dismissed, and she has no prior criminal record. She has begun paying restitution to Fred Meyer and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4. Stammet admitted to police that her actions were motivated by her gambling habit.