Butler County worker accused of buying $31K in gift cards on company tab

A former employee of an Allegheny County landscaping contractor is accused of using his employer’s credit cards to buy $31,351 in gift cards for himself between 2017-2019, according to state police.

Joshua S. Carson, 36, of Butler Township in Butler County, was arraigned before Westmoreland County District Judge Jason Buczak on 281 felony counts of unauthorized use of a credit card in connection with the embezzlement scheme. He was released Friday on $100,000 unsecured bond, according to court dockets.

State police at Kiski said in court documents that a two-year probe into the scheme showed Carson used credit cards from his former employer, Pine Township landscaping contractor C & W Works, which were supposed to be used to buy work supplies and fuel for company trucks.

The vast majority of the transactions made by Carson — about 157 of the 281 investigated during the two-year probe — were made at the GetGo in Delmont. Other purchases were made at GetGo stations in Harmar, Monroeville, Richland and West Mifflin in Allegheny County and Sarver in Butler County, troopers said.

According to state police, company officials became suspicious in July 2019 of the numerous purchases of gift cards made at the Delmont store for $129 or $139, “which was unusual.”

C & W Works officials declined comment on Carson’s arrest. Carson could not be reached for comment and did not have an attorney listed in court documents.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Aug. 8.

GetGo convenience stores are owned by Giant Eagle. Company security officials assisted state police during the investigation, according to court documents.