Fired Worker Kept Using Company Credit Card, Arrested: Deputies

PALM DESERT, CA – A Palm Desert man was arrested Wednesday for alleged embezzlement after he reportedly used a company credit card to purchase more than $2,000 of merchandise after he was fired from the firm, authorities said.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Palm Desert office were notified on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, of the suspected embezzlement and credit card fraud by a business located on the 7300 block of El Paseo in Palm Desert, officials said.

The company claimed multiple fraudulent transactions were logged from Dec. 22 to Dec. 25 on a businesses credit card that was issued to the former employee, identified as David Grodski, 58, and never returned upon his termination, deputies said.

After an investigation by the Palm Desert Special Enforcement, Grodski on Wednesday was located and arrested on the 73200 block of Highway 111 in Palm Desert, deputies said. Recovered after a search warrant was served at Grodski's Palm Desert residence on the 73200 block of Catalina Way was more than $2,000 of stolen property purportedly related to the thefts, the agency said.

Grodski was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio for suspicion of embezzlement, credit card fraud and burglary.

The name of the business involved was not disclosed.

Anyone with information on the case can call Deputy J. Smith at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600. Tips also may be submitted using the Sheriff's CrimeTips online form.

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--Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department