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Station manager of DGX arrested on embezzlement charges

The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) with the Department of Public Safety arrested the former station manager of Dependable Global Express (DGX) Company, Crystal Te’o, who is being held in custody on bail of $25,000.

She is charged with two counts of embezzlement and will make her initial appearance in District Court today.

Each embezzlement charge carries a jail-term of up to seven years and/or a fine of $5,000 or a fine equal to twice the amount gained from the crime which is up to $20,000 — or both fine and imprisonment.

According to the government’s case defendant Te’o was employed by the DGX Company from June 2009 to April 6, 2012.

The complaint was filed by current DGX Station manager Alvina Savali with police.

Savali told police that when she took over the defendant’s position, she was contacted by various businesses claiming outstanding balances for services transacted by Te’o. It’s alleged that one of these businesses was a rental car company.

According to court filings, the station with DGX Company must seek approval to route a request for payment through the corporate office so that the proper fund transfer may be made to cover the expense, however Te’o did not seek approval from the corporate office for renting a vehicle from a rental car business.

It’s alleged that Te’o rented a vehicle using the company name and designating DGX as the responsible party for payment.

According to the government’s case, Te’o made payments in excess of $40,000 for over a year using company checks payable to the rental car company.

It’s alleged that Te’o attempted to conceal the entire transaction from her subordinates in the local office by telling them that she had received the proper approval from the corporate office.

Savali told police that the rental car was used for DGX purposes and the only time the rental car was at the company premises was when Te’o was at the office.

Court filings state that Te’o also made payments to a gas station for fuel for both company and personal vehicles, however it was never approved by the corporate office for Te’o to open an account at this gas station.

Court documents also state that an email was sent to the rental car company from Te’o indicating the rental car company was to pick up the vehicle that she had, noting she no longer worked at DGX. According to the government’s case, DGX records from February 12, 2012 to April 6, 2012 showed numerous payments made to the rental car company for a total of $24,725.

Police also obtained invoices from the gas station for the DGX account showing the rental car that Te’o rented received fuel at least 22 times with a total fuel cost of $900.47.

According to the government’s case the totals are subject to revision as documentation is still being collected.

(Court filings do not identify what rental car company was used by Ms Te’o, or the gas station that opened the account for DGX)

Current DGX Station manager Alvina Savali told Samoa News that the investigation by the police is still on-going and she cannot disclose at this time how the amount was allegedly misappropriated by Te’o.

CID Captain Lavata’i Taase Sagapolutele confirmed that the investigation is still being carried out by the CID detectives, and he cannot relay any details about it. He did note that they are conducting a thorough investigation into this alleged white collar crime, because he believes there are other issues involved in this case.