Texas County to Be Reimbursed $1.6M for Organized Crime Scheme

Vector Fleet Management has agreed to reimburse Midland County, Texas, $1.6 million that was embezzled from 2018 to 2021. The settlement offer consists of repayment of $1.2 million and cancellation of $400,000 worth of outstanding invoices. Three people — Vector employee John Warren, his wife, and son — were arrested in connection with the scheme earlier this year and charged with criminal activity, according to CBS7 and MRT.

Vector is the county’s fleet management contractor. Authorities found Warren had submitted fraudulent invoices to the county, and Vector revealed he had made charges on the company credit card to false companies. Authorities seized 74 vehicles and equipment in connection with the scheme.

“Mr. Warren used falsified invoices without Vector’s knowledge to obtain payment for parts and services not rendered. The fraud and theft were discovered through an audit of records previously inaccessible to the County Auditor, but with the cooperation of Vector Fleet Management that information was made available for inspection,” according to a release from county judge Terry Johnson. He thanked those who helped with the investigation, including Vector, “as they too were victimized by Mr. Warren’s crimes.”

Vector Fleet Management provided the following statement:

“Vector Fleet Management is aware a former employee has been arrested by the Midland County Sheriff’s Office, the result of an investigation in which we have cooperated fully since authorities first made us aware of the allegations in early February. This individual acted independent of our company, and the alleged fraudulent behavior stands in direct contrast to the integrity with which we have run our business for 32 years. We have launched our own review to identify ways to prevent such an abuse of trust from every happening again, and we will continue to assist authorities in bringing those responsible to justice.”