Former oil and gas employee charged with using company card for $850K of personal use

HOUSTON – A criminal information has been filed against a 58-year-old Bryan resident for his suspected role involving wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan. K. Patrick.

James Day Burke is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo at 2 p.m. today.

He is charged with one count of wire fraud.

Burke was employed as the bookkeeper at Rustex Inc., an oil and energy company that is headquartered in Bryan.

From approximately May 2010 to approximately August 2018, Burke allegedly made unauthorized charges on company credit cards for personal expenses.

The information alleges Burke defrauded the company out of $855,872.42 as a result of his scheme.

If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

A criminal information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.