A former Chick-fil-A employee has been accused of orchestrating an elaborate $80,000 scam involving the chain's mac and cheese. Keyshun Jones, 23, is facing felony charges after allegedly funneling thousands of dollars onto his personal credit cards through a series of fake orders and refunds.
The Alleged Scheme
Jones had already been fired from the Chick-fil-A location in Grapevine, Texas, last November when he began the alleged heist. Chick-fil-A launched an investigation in November 2025 after noticing unusual losses at the restaurant. Surveillance footage showed Jones sneaking behind the counter and using a cash register, despite no longer being employed by the chain for over a month.
Police say Jones placed around 800 fake orders for catering macaroni and cheese trays, only to immediately process refunds back onto his credit card. The restaurant's total losses from the 'mac-and-cheese con' are estimated to exceed $80,000. Chick-fil-A macaroni and cheese prices vary by location but cost about $3.50 for a small to over $4.25 for a medium.
Investigation and Arrest
Refund fraud is not uncommon in the food service industry, but the sheer volume of Jones's orders raised alarm bells for law enforcement. Following a five-month-long investigation, officers tried to track down Jones, but he repeatedly evaded capture. He was finally arrested on April 17 in an operation involving the Texas Attorney General’s Fugitive Task Force and Fort Worth police. Jones now faces charges for theft of property, money laundering, and evading arrest.
Authorities have not yet explained how Jones accessed the register after his firing, raising questions about security at the Grapevine Chick-fil-A location. According to the New York Post, Jones faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice menu confirms that he will be able to order mac and cheese in prison.
Social Media Reaction
On social media, some Chick-fil-A fans and former service workers shared their thoughts on the heist, pointing out major mistakes in Jones's plan. 'Dude lacked some serious critical thinking skills,' one Reddit user wrote. 'In order to do this, he thought that there was a chance that he'd get away with it.' Another Reddit user joked, 'One way or another he was getting a severance package.'
Chick-fil-A has over 3,400 restaurant locations nationwide, making it one of the country's biggest fast food chains. The chain's beloved mac and cheese features a 'special blend' of parmesan, cheddar, and Romano cheese, baked in-restaurant to form a crispy top layer of baked cheese. The original chicken sandwich, using the same recipe for almost 60 years, remains America's favorite, with options like the Spicy Deluxe featuring tomatoes, lettuce, and pepper jack cheese.
