Jeffrey Jeffers, 35, of Williamstown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court in Charleston, W.Va., on July 30. Jeffers admitted to stealing $510,465.19 from his employer by making false charges to company-issued credit cards.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2022 and July 2024, Jeffers worked as a delivery truck driver for a large provider of industrial gas from its distribution facility in Wood County. The trucks were fueled at the distribution facility and also equipped with fuel credit cards. As part of his plea agreement, Jeffers admitted that he fraudulently charged a total of $510,465.19 in fuel costs to these credit cards during his employment.
Jeffers further admitted that the fraudulent payments went to accounts for fictitious service stations he created on online payment processing platforms. He acknowledged that his delivery routes normally did not require refueling outside the distribution facility.
Jeffers is scheduled for sentencing on November 9 and faces up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. He also owes restitution totaling $510,465.19.
“This defendant exploited the trust placed in him by his employer and turned a company resource into a personal revenue stream,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen through deception is a dollar taken from a business, its employees, and ultimately the community it serves. This case demonstrates that complex fraud schemes carried out behind computer screens and online payment platforms are no less serious than any other form of theft. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who believe they can enrich themselves through dishonesty and abuse of trust,” Capito said. Capito commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing, while Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case.