Tempe Police reported the following incident Monday:
- A 36-year-old Phoenix man was arrested Jan. 22 on the 13000 block of West 48th Street on suspicion of theft of more than $25,000 and money laundering, according to a police report.
The man received a paycheck from his employer on Dec. 27 with an erroneous amount, which paid him $1,075 an hour. The payroll check totaled $115,428.13, which after deductions paid the man $61,057.80, police said.
Instead of informing his employer of the discrepancy, the man opened a bank account at a local Bank of America and deposited the funds into the account, the report said.
In the days following the discrepancy, the man purchased two cars, both of an estimated value of $20,000 each, police said.
When the man’s employers discovered the error, they attempted to recoup the funds accidentally paid to the man, according to police.
The employers were only able to obtain $17,453.99 back from the man, the report said.
On Jan. 22, police contacted the man about the incident and during a post-Miranda interview, he said he only expected about $1,100 for his pay and knew he was not entitled to the amount he received, police said.
The man also told police he made no efforts to return the money to his employer, assuming that the amount would be recouped through tax liens and wage garnishments, the report said.
The man was booked into Tempe City Jail and released pending charges.
Report compiled by Adam Halleck
Reach the reporter at ahalleck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @adam_halleck
