Lancaster, OH, May 26--A former Millersport business owner faces 21 counts of theft, including three against senior citizens, according to the Lancaster Eagle Gazette.
A Fairfield County grand Jury indicted William J. Burt, 35, on the theft charges Friday. He was arrested Wednesday.
Burt is alleged to have been regularly accepting checks from customers and immediately depositing them in his personal checking account without delivering the purchased products. He is accused of diverting at least $35,000 for personal use.
Lt. Gary Kennedy, head of the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau, said the arrest was the culmination of two-year investigation into Burt's business practices when he owned and operated Millersport Carpeting, also known as Carpet Warehouse.
Burt closed the business, 12450 Lancaster St., Millersport, in November 2004.
"We started getting reports that people were paying for carpet and flooring from the business and then they received nothing," Kennedy said.
Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said Burt would sell all types of carpet and flooring.
"He would order the carpet, and tell customers that he would call and arrange for installation when it came in," Phalen said. "Then no one would call."
Phalen said investigators counted up to 80 people who never were provided flooring they ordered at Burt's business.
"It's a little different case for us to handle," Phalen said. "Generally, we deal with someone who breaks into a home or a business and steals something. But here was a place that certainly had all the signs of being a legitimate business. But it was all a con, a scam."
Phalen said the customers , including Ruthie King who lives in Pataskala, were from all over central Ohio.
King said she lost $11,588 after purchasing carpet for her home from Burt. She said she wrote Burt a check and waited for him to install the carpet. He never came, she said.
"He hurt me, but we were better off financially than a lot of people he took advantage of," said King. "All I can say is it's great news. Hooray."
The Child & Elder Protection, a section of the State Attorney General's Office, helped with the investigation by interviewing victims.
"Mr. Burt effectively pulled the rug from under his customers' feet," said Attorney General Jim Petro in a news release following the arrest. "This is why it is so important to take your time, check references and do some research before making a major purchase."
The Child & Elder Protection Section was formed in 2003 when Petro became attorney general. The section helps local authorities investigate criminal cases involving crimes against children and the elderly, said Bob Beasely, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office.
"This is a pretty significant case, dealing with a lot of money. A lot of time was spent investigating it, and it is a significant case for us."
Burt was held Wednesday in Fairfield County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He will be arraigned Friday in Fairfield County Common Pleas Court.
If convicted on all counts, Burt could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison.
