“Ex-Salesman Charged with $4M Embezzlement Scheme”

A man formerly employed as a salesman faces charges of embezzling more than $4 million through fraudulent applications submitted to his employer’s rebate program over an eight-year period. The police initiated an investigation in October 2024 after a local building product supplier reported suspicious activities by the ex-sales employee. The alleged scheme exploited a rebate initiative designed for business clients associated with the supplier. From April 2016 to April 2024, the accused individual purportedly created four fictitious construction companies, complete with imaginary staff, to illicitly obtain rebates. Approximately 5,500 fraudulent applications were submitted, resulting in the misappropriation of around $4.2 million from the supplier’s program. Despite being terminated for reasons unrelated to the fraud in June 2023, the accused continued to submit false rebate claims. The fraudulent activities came to light when the business uncovered the deceitful accounts and rebate requests. The former salesman, aged 50, surrendered to authorities on October 8 and has been formally charged with fraud exceeding $5,000, forgery, and the use of forged documents. He has been released on an undertaking.