$30,000 in Gas Stolen and Only Misdemeanor Charges

Keith Kendrick, accused of using a lost CDOT gas card.

More than $30,000 dollars in gas stolen through a lost government fuel card and so far the one suspect that has been charged is facing two misdemeanors relating to the theft.

For the background on my story, click here.

Shoplifting in Colorado is a misdemeanor charge.  Is $30,000 on the same level?

Definitely not.

What matters in this case is what prosecutors and investigators can prove.

In my report, I mentioned how investigators documented Keith Kendrick pumping gas on camera with the lost CDOT gas card several times.  But those documented incidents amounted up to 400 dollars, according to court records.  That doesn’t reach the threshold for a felony level charge.

Perhaps Kendrick did have the stolen gas card since it became unaccounted for back in 2009 or perhaps it exchanged several hands before it allegedly ended up in his pocket.  Any defense attorney would raise that question.

Whatever the case, it’s clear a lack of government control on CDOT’s end allowed the repeated thievery to continue at the pumps for two years.

And who got stuck with the bill?  Taxpayers…..unless insurance will cover the past fraudulent charges.

In this economy with high unemployment, it’s imperative the government watch its spending not only to the cent, but the credit card swipe.  That $30,000 could have gone to much better use.