Man Charged $170K in Personal Expenses to Company Credit Card: Investigators

An Indiana man allegedly ran up $170,000 in personal expenses on his BF Goodrich company credit card before a supervisor discovered the wrongdoing.

Jeffrey W. Kline, 50, of New Haven, Ind., was charged with theft Thursday. He told investigators he realized he would be caught eventually but found it too easy to commit and continue the crime, according to The Journal-Gazette in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Kline used his corporate credit card between Dec. 14, 2011, and Oct. 3, 2013, for electronics including a surround-sound system, food, gift cards, a Coach purse, a boat rental and a large-screen television, according to a probable cause affidavit and investigators.

Kline's misuse was not discovered for a long period because he would send the expense reports by email to the wrong supervisor and receive immediate approval. When a new supervisor questioned him, the company conducted an internal investigation and learned what had occurred, according to court records. Local police received a report from the company detailing $169,707 in illegal charges. 

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Consumer banking Debt collection
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER