Car Salesman Charged With Pocketing $1,350 from Dealership: Cops

OAK LAWN, IL -- A car salesman was arrested for pocketing money from sales, claiming he needed it to pay for repairing his son’s transmission, reports said.

Oak Lawn police met with an employee in the finance department at Shirey Cadillac, 10125 S. Cicero Ave., for a reported theft around 10:47 a.m. Aug. 31. The CFO told police she was auditing the books when she noticed discrepancies in money turned in by a salesman identified as Michael Galati, 61.

According to the report, the employee said Galati had turned in a receipt showing he had received $6,000 for a downpayment on vehicle from a customer, but only $5,000 had been turned in. She sent an email about the missing $1,000 to Galati.

Police said the finance employee also received a call from the customer, who stated that Galati had contacted her and told her to tell his boss that she had only paid $5,000. The customer thought this was suspicious and called the dealership to report it.

Further examination of the books revealed more alleged discrepancies in the receipts turned in by Galati, the finance employee told police. Beginning June 24, Galati is believed to have received $1,000 but only turned in $800. On July 5 and July 11, Galati is recorded as receiving $100 and $50, but didn’t turned in any money, police said.

The finance employee said the dealership was missing $1,350 and wished to sign a complaint, reports said.

Around 1:35 p.m. Aug. 31, police went to the dealership where they arrested Galati. He was taken to the Oak Lawn police station. According to police, Galati said his son’s transmission went out and he needed $1,200 to repair it. When a customer gave him $6,000 for a down payment on a car, he gave the dealership $5,000 and kept $1,000 to pay for the repair.

Galati said he intended to pay the dealership back. He claimed to know nothing about the three other transactions, reports said

Police also talked to the customer who alerted the dealership. The customer said she received a call from Galati, allegedly asking her to call the dealership and tell them she only put $5,000, not $6,000 down on a car. The customer told him she would not do that and immediately alerted the dealership.

Galati was charged with felony theft. He was released on a $10,000 I-bond. He is due back in court on Sept. 26 in Bridgeview.

Photo: Michael Galati, 61 | Oak Lawn Police Department