Man Charged With Stealing 54,884 Gallons Of Diesel Fuel

December 21, 2011

A  man has been charged with stealing nearly $180,000 worth of diesel fuel over a two year period.

Dennis Lawson, 56, was charged with first degree grand felony theft in connection with the thefts from Florida Rock and Tank Lines. Lawson, a 26-year veteran of the company, allegedly stole about 54,884 gallons of diesel fuel valued at $179,705.

The company hired a private investigator after they noticed discrepancies and then turned their information over to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s investigators later observed Lawson pump two 55-gallon drums of diesel fuel that he transported to a self-storage unit to be sold at a lower cost to others.

Lawson was released from jail on a $50,000 bond.

Comments

8 Responses to “Man Charged With Stealing 54,884 Gallons Of Diesel Fuel”

  1. Rogers on December 22nd, 2011 7:17 pm

    Stealing is stealing!!! What about the many people who takes stamps from the office or their job to mail their monthly bills out. It does not matter how big or small amount u steal it is all wrong.

  2. Jack on December 21st, 2011 6:17 pm

    Will he have to pay income tax on the $180K? Just wondering.

  3. Char on December 21st, 2011 2:37 pm

    Another thing that bothers me is that owner lost $180,000.00 for the fuel.
    Then he paid a private detective to find out who was robbing him and that
    info was handed on a silver platter to the folks that business already pay
    through taxes to catch criminals, then, the judicial system lets this accused walk streets again for a meer $5000.00.
    It probably cost that Company’s Owner that much for the Private Detective.

    I think this judge should have thought a little more about this victim, rather
    than being so lenient to the accused.

  4. Sho-nuff on December 21st, 2011 1:44 pm

    Its a shame when someone is good enough to give you a Job, and then you steal from them. I am sure it happens all the time, but its Wrong!!

  5. Char on December 21st, 2011 11:06 am

    I am wondering why the Sheriff’s office only did half the job?
    This man had been stealing fuel for 2 years and selling to others. Who would buy diesel fuel from a self storage AND ANOTHER CROOK is your answer. WHY did you not investigate and get everyone involved in this? THIS was a RING
    of theives, not just ONE GUY. CHECK his family and friends, no telling when was the last time they had to use a debit card at the pumps. This kind of business won’t work without cash paying customers. 30% of the men
    working for that company could have been involved and buying this gas, but
    will that poor owner ever know now? Let me be clear, I don’t know his family,
    friends or the men he works with, maybe they are all GREAT, but plenty were
    buying that gas and KNEW………

    As far as I’m concerned it’s like ARNOLD SAID “YOU MOVED TO FAST”.
    Now your going to have to shake the coconut himself and see what shakes out,
    or are you going to bother?

  6. Sandra on December 21st, 2011 6:13 am

    This is another potential learning moment for all of the firefighters out there. Self storage owners do not control what is put into their units very well and the next time you arrive on scene at one of these you should be aware that there could be a couple of hundred gallons of combustibles in the next unit. Be safe guys and Merry Christmas.

  7. stupied on December 21st, 2011 3:50 am

    he had a job for 26 years.atleast he had a job and after 26 years he should have been making pretty good money.he is crazy or what? alot of people would die for a good job right now. well now there will be a job open for someone else that needs a job.

  8. Everett on December 21st, 2011 12:33 am

    Be willing to bet the farm their was someone else internally involved who he split the money with. One day he decided to not give the person their cut and he got turned in.

    How do you lose 2300 gallons a month and not notice it right away?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News