An ex-manager at a Valley Discount Tire store has been arrested for defrauding customers and the company of thousands of dollars.
Mesa police report 38-year-old Jason David Klem would allegedly use customers' invoices to change the mailing addresses so he could receive gift cards the company would send during various promotions.
Police say from April 2016 to August 2016, Klem fraudulently received at least 105 gift cards totaling nearly $10,000. Klem reportedly used the addresses of family and friends as well as his own to receive the gift cards.
Police were able to obtain receipts for gift card purchases in Klem's name from retailers all over the Valley.
Klem is also accused of using customer information to show fake tire returns and funnel the refund monies to his bank accounts. Discount Tire officials found nine such refunds totaling over $9,100.
Discount Tire sent letters to all of the customers who were supposed to receive the gift cards and provided them with checks for the amount they were owed.
After being confronted by the company, Klem was terminated from his job last August. The Queen Creek resident was arrested on June 7 near McKellips Road and Stapley Drive at the Firestone store where he was working.
Klem has been charged with theft and fraudulent schemes.
