HAZELWOOD, Mo. — A former employee of a Hazelwood car dealership charged thousands of dollars to a fleet fueling card earlier this year, according to court documents filed this week.
Hazelwood police said over a 30-day period in April and May, Lawrence Williams charged $17,385 to a QuikTrip fleet fueling card issued to him by Bommarito Ford.
Editor's Note: The above-related video is from September.
According to a probable cause statement, "the use of the card was limited only to putting gasoline in the tanks of purchased vehicles before they were released to the owner."
The unauthorized purchases were made at two QuikTrip locations in Hazelwood—one in the 5900 block of Howdershell Road and the other in the 7400 block of North Lindbergh Boulevard between April 20-May 20.
Many of the purchases were for between $100 to $200 in gas, police said, adding the amount is more than the amount needed to fill up any vehicle sold by the dealership.
During an interview with police, Williams admitted to using the card to put gas in vehicles not sold by the dealership and letting service department employees use the card.
Williams told police the dealership knew he and other employees shared cards, court documents said. The dealership, for its part, said the service department has its own card and PIN.
Prosecutors charged Williams with one felony count of fraudulent use of a credit/debit device. Online court records did not list an attorney for him.
Williams was issued a summons to appear in a St. Louis County court on Nov. 14.