Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Justin Alexander Payne, a 50-year-old resident of Manteca, entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. This announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that between December 2017 and September 2023, Payne held the position of IT Director at a family-owned fuel supplier in Modesto. During this period, he engaged in fraudulent activities involving his company-issued credit card. Payne made unauthorized purchases of gift cards from various retailers, which he then sold to online businesses specializing in buying unwanted gift cards for less than their value. These businesses completed over 3,700 transactions with Payne.
Additionally, Payne used the company credit card for personal purchases such as clothing, sports equipment, and home improvement products. He disguised these purchases by altering receipts and falsifying expense reports to make them appear as legitimate business expenses for IT equipment. Through these actions, Payne embezzled over $1.4 million from the company.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is handling the prosecution.
Payne's sentencing is set for October 16, 2025, before Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. He could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The final sentence will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
