JUAN DeDIOS VARGAS, GAS ENTREPRENEUR, RUNS UP A BIG BILL FOR UNCLE SAM
By Richard Connelly
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 4, 2010
According to his driver's license, he's Juan DeDios Vargas. According to the lucky people who happened upon whatever gas station he was at, he was Robin Hood.
Stealing from the rich -- in this case the U.S government (Hey, wait!! That's us taxpayers!!) -- and giving to the poor in the form of half-priced gasoline.
Vargas, who was a letter carrier for the Post Office for 13 years, used to get gas cards from the agency. A light bulb went off in his head.
"Vargas would pump gasoline for others at the gas station using a [government gas] card and his personal identification number, then take a small fee in cash from his 'customers.'" the U.S. Attorney's office says.
In four and a half months, he racked up $17,829.39 on the card and got approximately $8,500 from eager gas buyers.
Apparently he never thought that the government might wonder how a mail carrier could spend almost $18,000 in gas in less than five months.
"It's George Bush and those damn high gas prices!!" he might've argued, since this happened mostly in the summer of 2008.
Vargas pleaded guilty today to theft of public money. A conviction carries a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for July.
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