06/17/2019
Former Energy Company Employee Charged with Stealing from Customers
A woman who worked for a Bridgeport energy company was arrested and charged with stealing thousands of dollars from customers who had prepaid for heating fuel in order to protect themselves against price spikes during the heating season.
DANEEKA N. THOMPSON, age 37, of 395D Trumbull Ave., Bridgeport, was arrested Monday by Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney on a warrant charging her with Larceny in the First Degree and Computer Crime in the First Degree.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Thompson is accused of stealing more than $35,000 from customers of Santa Energy Corp., where she worked. Thompson wrote and then cashed checks drawn on funds from Santa customers who had “locked in” the price and prepaid for fuel to protect themselves from price spikes during the heating season, the warrant states.
The company has made good on the customers’ losses, the warrant states.
Thompson was released on $35,000 bond and will be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court, G.A. No.2, on June 26, 2019. The charges are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Larceny in the First Degree and Computer Crime in the First Degree are class B felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $15,000 fine on each count. The case is being prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau.
The Statewide Prosecution Bureau wishes to express its appreciation to the Monroe Police Department for its assistance in this arrest.