Man Fired for Stealing $8,800 From Employer Approved for Unemployment

[Chris_]

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12473678

Man accused of stealing from company gets approval for benefits
Posted: May 12, 2010 10:50 PM CDT
Updated: May 13, 2010 3:32 AM CDT
 
Michael Ruffin (Source: Baton Rouge Police Department)

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The owners of Gulf South Insurance say a former employee was fired and charged with felony theft after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars. Now, the company has learned he's been approved to receive unemployment benefits.

The owners sent the Louisiana Workforce Commission the police report and even a handwritten statement from Michael Ruffin, the suspect. The owners say they only received a piece of paper with a stamp of approval in return. Raejean Love runs Gulf South Insurance. Gulf South is a family-owned business where she learned that she could trust her employees, or so she thought.

"In my mind, he was a good employee," said Love. "I had no issue and then he just snapped."

Love says Ruffin's job was to collect cash payments from customers and make deposits. In November, she says she noticed something was out of place.

"We were looking for something in his desk one day, for a check from a customer, and found an envelope stuffed in the back of the petty cash box."

Love says some of the cash was missing, but she gave Ruffin the benefit of the doubt.

"Never in my wildest dreams thinking it was theft. I was like, 'Hey, do you know where that cash is?' He point blank said, 'I took it.'"

Love says she received a text message from Ruffin that read, "I stole it to pay a bill. I was desperate and I don't even know what to say."

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Rest at link......

doc

[DumbAss Tanker]

You can't make this shit up.  Having done a lot of labor law over the years, though, I can't say it surprises me.