Man accused of taking almost $73K from Velosity Electronics

A Cape Girardeau man is accused of stealing nearly $73,000 from his employer.

Jeffrey D. Lage, 32, was charged last week with theft over $25,000, a Class B felony, online court records show.

After being notified by Bank of Missouri its account was getting low, Velosity Electronics checked its bank statements and discovered the missing money was being transferred by Lage, one of its employees since 2008, to pay his personal Capital One credit card, according to a probable-cause statement written in October by detective Jeff Lucas of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

The electronic transactions began March 24, 2014, and continued through Oct. 28, Lucas wrote; the total transferred over the course of about 50 transactions was approximately $68,789.95.

Lage also used Velosity's Bank of Missouri account to pay Ameren $2,210.21 in May, August and October, Lucas wrote.

In his statement, Lucas also wrote Lage stole $1,989.09 from the business cash register, and Lage would fill out deposit slips to include reward checks sent to Velosity by Capital One. Lage then would take the equivalent amount of cash from the register, Lucas wrote.

Online court documents filed in the case show Perry County Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Hoeh has been named special prosecutor at the request of Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh, who is an acquaintance of the alleged victim and formerly was employed by the opposing counsel.

The felony complaint filed by Hoeh says the range of punishment in this case is a minimum of five years and a maximum of 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, with no fine allowed.

An initial arraignment is set for April 27 in Jackson.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

500 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO