Ex-Olympus Employee Waives Bail to Make Restitution

An ex-Olympus employee waived bail during his preliminary hearing Thursday morning to save toward repaying the company more than $374,000. Benjamin Wilson, 35, is  in an ongoing eBay scam uncovered last summer. 

"My client plans on being as cooperative as possible," said Wilson's attorney, Michael P. Gough, outside the Lehigh County courtroom. 

According to the criminal complaint, an Olympus employee contacted  to report a suspected theft.  

The resulting investigation involved interviews with corporation employees, reviews of numerous documents and execution of search warrants for bank accounts held by Wilson and eBay and PayPal accounts that were traced to Wilson.

Employees told police that in late February to early March 2011, Olympus noticed that the Scientific Equipment Group had purchased 10 Dell workstations valued at about $44,683 that could not be accounted for. Wilson, an Olympus employee at the time, signed the purchase orders.

Further investigation uncovered Wilson ordered 454 high-end televisions, which were paid for by the company. He then sold the TVs on eBay, using the name "benandem98."

Wilson, after relocating to Katy, TX with his family, is charged with one count each of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and forgery -- all second-degree felonies. His formal arraignment is schedule for May 22.