Man accused of embezzling over $57,000 from his employer

Vincent Ivan Beesley | Bonneville County Jail

IDAHO FALLS — Police say a Rigby man embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from his employer, Potato Products of Idaho.

Vincent Ivan Beesley, 39, faces three felony counts of grand theft after the Jefferson County-based potato processor reported the alleged theft to authorities. According to an affidavit of probable cause, the Idaho Falls Police Department learned Beesley allegedly used his and co-workers company-issued credit cards to make over $57,000 in personal purchases.

The manager of Potato Products of Idaho first contacted the Rigby police department who contacted the Idaho Falls Police Department about purchases made within city limits. A detective in Idaho Falls wrote in the probable cause that Beesley allegedly used his company-issued credit card to buy items at the Idaho Falls Home Depot between August and November.

Of the $21,677 spent at the home improvement store, over $14,000 went to prepaid credit and gift cards, according to a police report.

A fellow employee wrote in a statement that in September, Beesley told him he lost his own credit card and needed to use his to buy the pizza for the crew at work. Another co-worker also said Beesley told him he forgot his card and needed to borrow his to make purchases.

Between both cards, Beesley is accused of racking up thousands in charges to Home Depot, Lowes and Fred Meyer stores in Idaho Falls. Most of the Lowes and Fred Meyer purchases also went towards prepaid credit and gift cards.

Detectives said Beesley used the credit cards and prepaid cards in stores throughout eastern Idaho. Surveillance cameras at the stores show Beesley using credit cards at multiple stores when the purchases were made.

Investigators in Rigby tried contacting Beesley but were not able to find him.

Charges for Beesley were filed Wednesday. On Friday, the Idaho Falls Police department learned he checked into the Motel 6 on Broadway Street. When officers knocked on the door, Beesley never answered and police forced their way inside, where they arrested him and cited him with misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Beesley is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 24. He remains held in the Bonneville County Jail on $9,000 bail.

Although Beesley is charged with crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.