Watertown man faces felony charges after state police uncover fraudulent online ordering scheme targeting Hannaford supermarket

Watertown, New York – A Watertown man is facing felony charges after investigators linked him to a series of fraudulent online grocery orders at a local Hannaford supermarket.

New York State Police announced the arrest of Khalid M. Baylor, age 25, of Watertown, following a detailed investigation into an online ordering scam that allegedly defrauded the store of nearly $1,500 worth of merchandise.

According to State Police, Baylor was arrested on October 14, 2025, and charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, both Class E felonies. He was released with an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear before Jefferson County CAP Court on November 3, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

The arrest concludes a months-long investigation that began on June 6, 2025, after police were alerted to suspicious activity involving the Hannaford To Go online ordering system at the Watertown Hannaford location. Store employees reported a pattern of fraudulent purchases that appeared to originate from legitimate customer accounts.

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Investigators say the individuals behind the scheme gained access to out-of-state customers’ Hannaford To Go accounts and linked stolen or unauthorized credit card information. The fraudulent orders were then placed for in-store pickup in Watertown, where they were collected by people posing as legitimate customers.

Store staff grew suspicious after several incidents in which orders appeared inconsistent with regular customer patterns. An internal review by Hannaford’s loss prevention team confirmed the fraudulent nature of the transactions, prompting them to notify State Police.

Through surveillance footage and transaction records, detectives identified Baylor as one of the individuals who had repeatedly picked up the fraudulent orders. Authorities say he retrieved multiple online purchases over several weeks, accumulating a total of $1,468.30 in stolen merchandise.

“The investigation revealed that Baylor was directly involved in retrieving fraudulent grocery orders made using compromised customer accounts,” investigators said in a statement.

Police have not indicated whether additional suspects are being sought but noted that the investigation remains ongoing.

State Police are urging residents to regularly monitor their online grocery and retail accounts for unauthorized transactions. Customers who notice suspicious activity are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or the store’s fraud department immediately.

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Baylor’s arrest highlights the growing issue of digital retail fraud, which has become increasingly sophisticated as more consumers rely on online shopping platforms. While the total amount in this case may seem modest, investigators said such schemes often involve coordinated efforts across multiple locations and can result in significant financial losses for both companies and customers.

Authorities thanked Hannaford staff for their cooperation throughout the investigation, noting that their quick reporting and documentation helped bring the case to resolution.

Baylor remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.