An Anderson, Ind., gas station owner is facing five counts of felony theft and one of misdemeanor check deception after Porter Police said that he accepted deliveries of more than $200,000 worth of gasoline from the Pinkerton Oil Company at 75 E. U.S. Highway 20 and then stopped payment on the gas.

Michael Worrell, 57, who owns gas stations in the Carmel and Indianapolis areas, faces a maximum sentence of 15 years if convicted on all charges.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Lt. John Lane of the PPD, on April 4, 7, 8, and 11, 2006, Worrell accepted four deliveries of gasoline valued at a total of $93,748.23 after cancelling electronic fund purchases which were supposed to pay for the fuel.

On March 23, 2006, Worrell accepted a delivery of gasoline valued at $26,283.13 and issued a draft on his bank to pay for the purchase, Lane also stated in his affidavit, but on April 3 Pinkerton Oil Company was notified that an attempted electronic fund transfer was returned with the notation “not sufficient funds.”

And on March 30, March 31, and April 1, Worrell accepted deliveries of gasoline valued at a total of $80,963.43, then contacted his bank and stopped payment on the deliveries, Lane further stated in his affidavit.

Posted 11/29/2007