Utah grocery store manager accused of stealing $40,000 from cash registers

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A manager of a Salt Lake City grocery store was arrested for allegedly stealing $40,000 over the course of a year.

Yasmin Castellanos, 47, was the manager of the Smith’s located near 1100 W 600 N in the Rose Park neighborhood until just before her arrest on Sunday, according to police. She is facing a second-degree felony charge of theft.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Smith’s officials started documenting missing cash starting in February 2025 through late December of that year.

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Police said approximately $40,000 is believed to have been stolen during that time.

The highest amount of cash missing in a day was documented on Dec. 27, with officials saying over $14,760 was gone.

Castellanos was taken into custody and interviewed by investigators.

They said she explained that, as part of her job, she would collect bags of cash from the registers and place the cash into a collection machine. This included cash from pharmacy registers.

Castellanos allegedly admitted to theft, saying she would pocket some of the cash from the bags and use it to pay loans, rent, food and medical bills.

Police said she admitted to taking about $40,000. The money has not yet been found.

Castellanos was booked in the Salt Lake County Jail on Sunday evening.

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