ST. LOUIS (AP) – An Arizona man accused of misspending his suburban St. Louis company’s money on strippers has pleaded guilty to federal charges.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 41-year-old John David Berrett, of Gilbert, Arizona, entered the plea Wednesday in St. Louis to federal charges. Prosecutors said the Internet technology architect for World Wide Technology Inc. cost the Maryland Heights-based company $476,413 in fraudulent expenses.
The indictment says Berrett spent the money on a sex toy and college tuition, flowers, shoes and chocolates for online strippers. At the hearing, Berrett admitted to submitting expense claims totaling more than $10,000 at a time. He also acknowledged that the expenses were for personal items, and that he wasn’t allowed personal use of his company credit card.
Berrett’s attorney says that some facts had been left out of the plea agreement. Dosdall said the money went to an online “subscription.”
The indictment says that Berrett bought online “tokens” to tip strippers on a website. In all, the indictment says, Berrett spent more than $100,000 on the tokens.
The website says that tokens can be used to chat with models, tip them or pay for private shows, which cost at least one token per second.
He also used his company credit card to buy chocolates, flowers, electronics, wine, a handbag and shoes, the indictment says. One woman received $26,800 for college tuition, new tires and her family’s utility bills.
He’s expected to be sentenced in June.
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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com
