From: Augusta Chronicle

$29,000 pumped to stolen gas card
By Adam Folk| Staff Writer
Thursday, January 10, 200811 commentsPRINTEMAIL Levi Kitchens doesn't own a car or have a driver's license, but police say that didn't stop him from charging thousands of dollars worth of fuel to a stolen government gas card.




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Levi Kitchens is charged with financial transaction card fraud.
Click photo for optionsMr. Kitchens, 21, of the 4600 block of Crested Butte Road, was picked up last week during a narcotics investigation and has since been charged with at least two counts of financial transaction card fraud, sheriff's Investigator Michelle Walden said Wednesday.

The Atlanta office of the U.S. Inspector General notified the sheriff's office last August of transactions in the Augusta area. Since then, investigators have tracked the use of the stolen card to about 145 transactions across Richmond County, which totaled $29,220 in gasoline purchases charged to the government.

"This guy was pumping $150 at a time, and he would hit several places in the same day," Investigator Walden said.

The Voyager Fleet credit card was reported stolen from a vehicle at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta. Investigator Walden said.

"We know that he didn't steal it," she said. "We believe someone at the base owed him money and instead, they gave him the card."

Investigator Walden said Mr. Kitchens was seen using the card to fill up the gas tanks of friends and family.

"One of the typical things people do when they get stolen credit cards is fill up, say, $40 in gas and charge their friend $20," she said.

Investigator Walden said she will be discussing the case with District Attorney Danny Craig and might pursue additional charges against Mr. Kitchens.

Investigator Walden said Mr. Kitchens told police he took the fuel because "gas is high, man."