Former Employee of Local Oil Company Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in a Scheme to Defraud Employer

Kevin D. Dowell, 37, of St. Louis, Missouri, entered a plea of guilty in federal district court to wire fraud in a scheme to defraud and embezzle from the FKG Oil Company, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Stephen R. Wigginton announced today. Dowell faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after serving his sentence, and mandatory restitution. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 30, 2014.

As part of the plea, Dowell admitted that while he was the manager of the Human Resources Department of FKG Oil Company in Belleville, Illinois, and during the time period mid-2010 to April 2013, he falsified mileage expense reports, used a company credit card for personal expenses, and would transfer funds electronically from the company’s bank account directly to his personal bank account in Missouri. Dowell admitted that he caused a direct loss of $87,419 and an additional $26,565 in investigative expenses for a total loss of $113,984.

This crime was reported to the Belleville Police Department and a full investigation was performed by a third party firm. At completion of the full investigation, the case was turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Norman R. Smith.

Falsifying expense reports is a crime. To report suspicious activity to the FBI, call (217) 522-9675 or e-mail springfield@ic.fbi.gov. To report public corruption, call (877) 884- 7633 or (877) U-TIP-OFF. To report health care fraud, call (888) 557-9503.