Dispatcher scammed company out of $100k via Zelle payments

Truck dispatcher scammed company out of $100,000 by redirecting customer payments to his personal account, police say. 

36-year-old Gabriel Antonio Pluas worked as a dispatcher for Trans Maco Transport from January 2022 to October 2023 in Miami-Dade County, Florida. In February of 2024, an investigation was launched into Pluas’ actions during his time as a dispatcher. 

According to Local 10, Pluas was accused of billing Trans Maco Transport customers through Zelle using his personal email address without the company’s consent. Over the years, Pluas created multiple fake invoices belonging to Trans Maco Transport and used these fake invoices to redirect customer payments to himself. Not only did Pluas direct the funds to himself, he was never authorized to collect payment on behalf of the company as part of his job. 

After investigating Zelle transactions, email records, and the falsified invoices, investigators determined that Pluas had defrauded customers and the company and had systematically embezzled money for his own personal gain. 

“As a result of his actions, Mr. Pluas both temporarily and permanently deprived the victim of their property,” a police officer wrote in his arrest report.

Pluas refused to cooperate with investigators and was taken to jail. As of April 17th, Pluas was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. His bond has not yet been set, but he is currently facing one count each of organized scheme to defraud $50,000 or more and first-degree grand theft.