Rayne Man Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud Worth More Than $100,000

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) -- A Rayne man has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud after he redirected more than $100,000 into a bank account associated with a fake company.

U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley said Tuesday that 53-year-old Joseph Bessee used his position as a salesperson at Interco and created a fake company called INT sales. Using his position, he would arrange for tire sales as an Interco employee, take the customers' account information, then, through a point-of-sale device, process that account information and credit the funds to the fake account.

Finley said Besse obtained $143,872.88 using this scheme.

He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has yet to be set.