Former Office Depot supervisor gets 4½ years for $675,000 theft

A former supervisor at Office Depot in Carol Stream was sentenced Friday to 4½ years in prison for stealing about $675,000 in merchandise from the company, prosecutors said.

Brenda Robinson, 48, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in July to continuing a financial crimes enterprise.

She was sentenced by DuPage County Judge Blanche Hill Fawell, who also ordered her to pay $300,000 in restitution.

Robinson worked at Office Depot for about 10 years, most recently as a supervisor processing damaged or defective merchandise for return to vendors.

Between 2007 and July 2012, she stole items on at least 450 occasions, depriving the store of refunds it otherwise would have received, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Robinson stole laptops, tablets, software and cleaning supplies, among other items. The scheme ended when her employer became suspicious and opened an internal investigation.

"Her greed and an uncontrollable desire to fatten her own piggy bank caused a significant financial loss and hardship to Office Depot," State's Attorney Bob Berlin said.

By law, Robinson must serve at least half of her prison term before she is eligible for parole.