Man Accused of Embezzling from Local Builder

posted November 10, 2012 at 12:26 am

A former Plainfield man was arrested in New Jersey this week, accused of scamming his brother-in-law’s company out of more than $100,000 in unauthorized credit card charges.

Shayne Rausenberger, 35, was arrested Wednesday after Plainfield police obtained a warrant and got in touch with authorities in Haskell, NJ, where he moved in September, according to police detective Carianne Siegel. He is charged with two counts of theft by deception, police said.

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Rausenberger is a former employee of DJK Custom Homes, which operates in and around Plainfield, Oswego and Naperville, according to owner Dan Kittilsen.

In Oswego, DJK builds homes in the Henneberry Woods and Old Reserve Hill subdivisions.

Kittilsen, who said Rausenberger is married to his wife’s sister, claims his brother-in-law bilked the company out of “well over” $100,000 before he skipped town this fall. Kittilsen said Rausenberger worked for the company for 12 years.

Siegel said Rausenberger had access to the company’s Menard’s credit card so he could purchase materials for DJK’s custom building and remodeling jobs.

“What he was supposed to do was run to Menard’s, charge it and bring it back to the job site,” Siegel said.

While he was at it, police said, Rausenberger was also allegedly purchasing Menard’s gift cards, which he would turn around and sell for a profit on eBay.

After subpoenaing credit card records and other financial documents, Siegel said police believe the crimes date back to late 2004.

Between then and 2011, Siegel said Rausenberger charged more than $100,000 in gift cards.

Siegel said Rausenberger was arrested Wednesday and posted 10 percent of a $150,000 bond the same day.

According to Will County court records, Rausenberger’s wife filed for divorce in September, the same month he moved back to his home state of New Jersey.

Siegel said Rausenberger lost his Plainfield home to foreclosure around the time that Kittilsen caught on to the scam. Will County records show that Rausenberger’s home at 12851 Shenandoah Trail went into foreclosure in December 2011.

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