MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – An accused scammer from Broward County is facing charges in Miami-Dade after police say he bilked the trucking company that he formerly worked for out of $100,000.
Miami-Dade police said from January 2022 to October 2023, Gabriel Antonio Pluas, 36, of Davie, served as an employee of Trans Maco Transport.
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An arrest report stated that during this period, his responsibilities included dispatching drivers to customers for the transportation of cargo to and from various destinations.
However, detectives said after further investigation, they discovered Pluas engaged in unauthorized actions, notably billing Trans Maco Transport customers via Zelle through his personal email address without the company’s consent.
According to the report, Pluas created fake invoices belonging to Trans Maco Transport with the intent to defraud the company of its funds.
Through these deceptive practices, police said Pluas illicitly profited approximately $100,000 from the business by leveraging their resources and redirecting customer payments to himself.
A subpoena issued on Feb. 1 compelled Zelle to release transaction records from January 2022 to February 2024 that were found in Pluas’ email, the report stated.
Police said these documents uncovered numerous instances of Trans Maco Transport customers transferring funds directly to Pluas’ bank account.
According to a witness, Pluas was never authorized to receive any funds intended for the business.
Investigators determined that Pluas misrepresented himself to customers and systematically billed them for his own personal gain.
Authorities said the witness provided detectives with falsified invoices created by Pluas.
“As a result of his actions, Mr. Pluas both temporarily and permanently deprived the victim of their property,” a police officer wrote in his arrest report.
After being informed of his Miranda rights, Pluas refused to cooperate with investigators and was taken to jail.
Jail records show he is facing one count each of organized scheme to defraud $50,000 or more and first-degree grand theft.
As of Wednesday, Pluas was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond has not been determined.