A 41-year-old Ansonia man is accused of stealing more than $25,000 from the Bridgeport auto body shop where he worked.
Police said Joel Tenpenny stole a total of $25,775 from Black Horse Automotive Services on Union Avenue in Bridgeport, where he worked as comptroller. He was responsible for documenting the company’s financial transactions, reporting them to the owners and making sure the company complied with federal and state tax regulations.
According to police, Tenpenny overpaid himself by $4,648 during a five-month period from late 2012 into January of last year. He also reportedly made $11,092 personal charges to company credit cards, including home heating oil payments.
Police said Tenpenny allowed other employees to purchase auto parts using company cards, and when they reimbursed the company in cash, Tenpenny reportedly pocketed the money.
Tenpenny is also accused of artificially inflating the company’s income statements so he and other managers would receive performance bonuses.
He’s charged with first-degree larceny and first-degree computer crimes.
