Hockessin restaurant manager charged
A manager of the Redfire Grill and Steakhouse has been arrested by the Delaware State Police and charged with embezzling more than $13,000 from the popular Hockessin restaurant.
Casey F. Sheehan, 35, of Wilmington, is facing one count of theft and nine counts of falsifying business records.
According to court papers, the restaurant's owner and a general manager went to police in late September with their suspicions about Sheehan, telling investigators that thefts took place between January and September.
According to the affidavit, Sheehan was able to steal the money by taking cash that customers used to pay their bill and enter "void" or "comp" (meaning complimentary) in the restaurant's computer system for that check. Police allege Sheehan falsified the restaurant's records in this way after the business had closed and he was there by himself, taking between $700 and $2,200 every month.
Sheehan would often remain at the modern, contemporary steakhouse in the Lantana Square Shopping Center, off Valley Road and Del. 7, until 4:30 a.m. or 6 a.m., far later than any other manager, according to police.
Investigators also charged that "90 percent" of the fraudulent activity took place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when Sheehan was working at the restaurant alone. Furthermore, the time stamps on the voided receipts matched up to when Sheehan was working and surveillance video showed Sheehan sitting at a restaurant computer at the times receipts were changed, according to court records.
Sheehan was arrested and charged on Oct. 3 and is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 14.
Redfire Grill and Steakhouse is part of the Platinum Dining Group founded by Carl and Lisa Georigi. The restaurant group also runs Wilmington's Eclipse Bistro, Capers & Lemons Italian Restaurant in Mill Creek and Taverna in downtown Newark.
Redfire, formerly known as Dome until changing its name and format in 2010, has won several awards at the annual Delaware Burger Battle.
Owner Carl Georigi declined to comment.
Contact Sean O'Sullivan at (302) 324-2777 or sosullivan@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @SeanGOSullivan
Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @pattytalorico.
