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Man arrested in gas scam

Officials say he used his former employer's credit card to buy gas, then sold it to neighbors.

By BRADY DENNIS
Published February 9, 2005

TAMPA - On one hand, his neighbors were getting a great deal on gas. On the other hand, investigators say, Eugene McClure had created a fire hazard the likes of which his Riverview trailer park had never seen.

The 35-year-old man was arrested Monday evening on charges that he used his former employer's credit card to buy $14,000 worth of gasoline, which he stored in large drums inside his shed and sold to neighbors for $1 per gallon.

Quite a deal, considering that the average price per gallon of gas was about $1.88.

Authorities said McClure was fired in May after failing to show up for his job as a driver for Sunbelt Rentals. But they said he kept a company credit card and during May and August made 217 separate gas purchases.

An anonymous complaint to the Hillsborough County Fire Department triggered an investigation. The Fire Department enlisted the help of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Division of Forestry, which has experience in investigating cases of petroleum theft.

"It's kind of a strange case," but not one that took Sherlock Holmes to crack, said Terence McElroy, spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. "We did a lot of traces back on the credit receipts. It was fairly easy to trace the card back to him."

McElroy said investigators also called the company, which put a stop on the credit card.

Authorities arrested McClure at his home Monday. He faces charges of fraudulent use of a credit card and grand theft. He was released about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday after posting $1,000 bail.

State records show McClure, known as Karl Huff until he changed his name in 1998, previously has been arrested nine times in Florida. His past charges include carrying a concealed weapon, burglary, grand larceny, resisting an officer with violence and possession of marijuana.

McClure could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report.

[Last modified February 9, 2005, 00:43:19]