Justin Alexander Payne, a 50-year-old resident of Manteca, has entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. The case involves Payne’s employment from December 2017 to September 2023 as an IT Director at a family-owned fuel supplier in Modesto.
Court documents reveal that Payne engaged in unauthorized use of his company-issued credit card for purchasing gift cards from various retailers. He then sold these gift cards to online businesses specializing in buying unwanted gift cards at discounted rates, completing over 3,700 transactions.
Additionally, Payne used the company’s credit card for personal purchases such as clothing, sports equipment, and home improvement items. To hide these activities, he altered receipts and falsified expense reports to make it seem as though the purchases were legitimate business expenses. In total, Payne embezzled over $1.4 million from the company.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is leading the prosecution.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2025, with Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley presiding. Payne could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000; however, the final sentence will be determined by considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
