A man from West Virginia has admitted to fraudulently charging hundreds of thousands of dollars to fuel cards provided to him by his employer.
On July 30, 2026, Jeffrey Jeffers, 35, of Williamstown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Authorities stated that, between November 2022 and July 2024, Jeffers worked as a truck driver delivering products for a major industrial gas supplier from its distribution facility in Wood County.
The trucks were refueled at the distribution facility, but the company also provided fuel cards.
As part of his guilty plea, Jeffers admitted to charging $510,465.19 in fuel to the cards while working for the company.
As part of the scam, Jeffers charged the fuel to fictitious gas stations that he himself created on online payment processing platforms.
Jeffers admitted that his regular delivery routes did not require him to refuel outside the distribution facility.
Jeffers faces up to 20 years in prison when sentencing is handed down on November 9, 2026.
Jeffers owes $510,465.19 in restitution, according to authorities.
“This defendant took advantage of the trust his employer had placed in him and turned a company resource into a source of personal income,” said U.S. Attorney Moore Capito. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen through deception is a dollar taken from a company, its employees, and, ultimately, the community it serves. This case demonstrates that complex fraud schemes carried out behind computer screens and through 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 breach of trust.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
