Reservist charged with grand theft

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Man allegedly used government credit card to buy gas for his Jeep

BY AUSTIN L. MILLER
THE STAR-BANNER


OCALA - Army Reservist Sgt. Hugh Shafter Baugus was supposed to use his government-issued gas credit card to fill up his unit vehicles. However, by his own admission to a Marion County sheriff's deputy on Saturday, within the past year and a half, he used the card approximately 100 times to purchase fuel for his privately owned jeep.

A military investigator told the deputy that Baugus, a facility manager with the U.S. Army 351st Military Police Company, made at least 28 unauthorized purchases for unleaded gasoline for $4,673.96.

Baugus, 45, a reservist, was arrested on Saturday morning at the unit's headquarters at 2803 S.E. 36th Avenue, and charged with unauthorized use of a credit card, organized fraud and grand theft. He was taken to the Marion County Jail and held, pending payment of $6,000 bail. As of Saturday afternoon, Baugus, who refused an interview request from the Star-Banner, was still at the jail.

Military officials refused to comment on the matter. Baugus was not with the unit when it deployed to Iraq in early 2003. According to Deputy Ian Simpson, U.S. Army Reserve investigator Michael Pangia briefed him about his preliminary probe. Pangia said Baugus signed and took possession of the gas card in late 2004. Pangia said between September 2005 and April 2006, Baugus reportedly racked up $4,673.96 at a gas station located at 6980 N.E. Jacksonville Road.

more: http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060604/NEWS/206040366/1001/NEWS01