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To: marginmike who wrote (45121)	10/17/1999 10:30:00 PM
From: Jon Koplik	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 152472

AP News story about a very dishonest Motorola employee. (Sorry if already posted). (Check out the part I put in bold print !) ********************************************* October 17, 1999 Motorola Worker Accused in Scam Filed at 4:52 p.m. EDT By The Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) -- For a $40,000-a-year Motorola Inc. customer relations worker, Brian McGhee appeared to live lavishly, allegedly spending thousands of dollars a month on clothing and building a house worth more than a quarter-million dollars. But authorities claim the 27-year-old made most of his money by illegally selling cellular phone batteries on the side -- allegedly scamming his employer out of up to $2.5 million over the last year. McGhee was charged Friday with stealing more than $100,000 from the world's No. 2 maker of cellular phones, where he has worked for three years. He allegedly confessed to Libertyville police after his arrest Thursday. McGhee worked in the customer relations department at Motorola's Libertyville facility, fielding calls from cellular phone customers. Customers sometimes are advised to return defective batteries in exchange for new ones and give their credit card number as a deposit until the company receives the old battery. McGhee allegedly entered bogus card numbers and shipped batteries, each valued at about $100, by the thousand to associates at 57 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. ``We think he was sending them to accomplices who would pay him and they would sell them at a profit,' Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Steven Scheller said. Motorola officials became suspicious earlier this month, when a battery was mailed back to Motorola marked ``Return to Sender,' and they were unable to document the transaction, Scheller said. Company officials put McGhee under surveillance Oct. 8. Security guards followed him to a Burger King restaurant, where they allegedly saw him exchange a Motorola battery container. Investigators are trying to identify accomplices, Scheller said. Motorola spokeswoman Sue Frederick told the Chicago Tribune that the company would not comment because of the police investigation. A spokesperson did not return a phone message from The Associated Press. McGhee allegedly told police that for one battery shipment, a customer gave him $25,000 to $30,000 plus a 1998 Lincoln Navigator sport utility vehicle worth about $50,000. Authorities, who said McGhee spent $12,000 a month on clothes, allegedly found 150 pairs of Nike athletic shoes and a drawer full of jewelry and diamonds in his apartment. ``Instead of doing laundry, apparently he would just throw his clothes away,' Scheller said. Authorities said McGhee also put $9,000 down on a house, which is still under construction and has an estimated value of $270,000 to $340,000. Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company