EAST STROUDSBURG — A local man with a string of prior theft convictions surrendered to Stroud Area Regional Police on Thursday, two months after allegedly shoplifting from Walmart.

John J. Figueiredo, 57, walked into police headquarters Thursday morning and was arraigned by Judge Wolbert on a third-degree felony retail theft charge. The felony upgrade stems from his previous convictions—Pennsylvania law bumps shoplifting to a felony after someone racks up two or more prior theft convictions.

The incident happened back on September 16 around 9 p.m. at the Walmart on Lincoln Avenue. Loss prevention caught Figueiredo on camera shoving merchandise into his pants pockets and stuffing items inside a lamp box. When confronted, he’d concealed about $106 worth of stuff.

Police took him to Monroe County Correctional Facility that night for processing. After investigators reviewed his record and the evidence, they filed felony charges and issued a warrant. Instead of making cops track him down, Figueiredo showed up voluntarily at 8:45 a.m. Thursday.

The felony charge is no joke—he’s looking at up to seven years in prison and $15,000 in fines if convicted. The case is now working its way through the court system under reference number 2025-022650.

Figueiredo is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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