Motorola employee arrested for battery scam

A Motorola customer relations worker has been arrested and charged with fraud after allegedly scamming up to $2.5m from the mobile phone company

Brian McGhee, who has worked in Motorola's Libertyville facility for the last three years, was charged with stealing from the company by illegally selling mobile phone batteries.

Company policy advises Motorola customers to return faulty batteries and leave a credit card number as a deposit until the old ones are returned and the replacements sent out. McGhee is accused of using false credit card numbers to obtain the batteries and shipping replacements to accessory reseller associates in 57 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Motorola became suspicious earlier this month after batteries were returned marked 'Return to Sender' but there was no documentation of the transaction.

McGhee was put under company surveillance on Friday, 8 October when security guards witnessed him exchange a Motorola battery container in a Burger King restaurant.

Suspicion intensified after an investigation into his lifestyle. The $40,000 a year Motorola employee lived in a house worth $340,000 and drove a $50,000 car.

Authorities reported finding thousands of pounds worth of clothes and jewellery - including diamonds - in McGhee's home.