A Mercedes-Benz employee of the Laguna Niguel dealership that’s located 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles was convicted to serve 18 months in a federal penitentiary by U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for defrauding the store of more than $1 million.

According to court documents, David Delgado used his position as supervisor of temporary workers to create phony time sheets. Delgado recruited and approved phony time cards for at least 27 temporary workers from 2004 to February 2007- porters and attendants at the dealership’s on-site car wash. The workers reported their (unworked) hours to the companies, who billed the dealership based on Delgado’s approvals. The staffing agency would then pay the temps who would then split the cash with Delgado. The temporary workers came from two outside staffing agencies, Manpower Inc. and Volt Management Corp. -Continued after the jump

In all, the scammers managed to fill their pockets with $1,053,970. As you probably have guessed already, Delgado was turned in by an employee who revealed the scam to the dealership’s general manager, Pat Bolter. Following charges on May 8, Delgado agreed to a plea bargain were we will serve 18 months in a federal penitentiary and repay the $1,053,970 lost by the dealership.

Via: Autonews (sub. Req.)