West Virginia truck driver admits to $510K fuel card fraud scheme

A West Virginia man admitted to fraudulently charging hundreds of thousands of dollars to his company-issued fuel cards.

On  July 30, 2026, Jeffrey Jeffers, 35, of Williamstown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Officials said that between November 2022 and July 2024, Jeffers worked as a driver who delivered products by truck for a large provider of industrial gas from its distribution facility in Wood County.

The trucks were fueled at a distribution facility, but the company also provided fuel cards.

As part of his guilty plea, Jeffers admitted to charging $510,465.19 in fuel to the cards while he was employed by the company.

As part of the scheme, Jeffers charged fuel to fictitious service stations he created on online payment processing platforms.

Jeffers admitted that his regular delivery routes did not require him to fuel outside of the distribution facility.

Jeffers faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 9, 2026.

Jeffers owes $510,465.19 in restitution, officials said.

“This defendant exploited the trust placed in him by his employer and turned a company resource into a personal revenue stream,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen through deception is a dollar taken from a business, its employees, and ultimately the community it serves. This case demonstrates that complex fraud schemes carried out behind computer screens and online payment platforms are no less serious than any other form of theft. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who believe they can enrich themselves through dishonesty and abuse of trust.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).