Two Men Charged in $760K Trucking Impersonation Fuel Scam
Two men indicted for impersonating trucking company and scamming fuel company out of $760,000
Two Georgia men are facing federal charges after prosecutors say they impersonated the owner of a Detroit-based trucking company to obtain fuel cards and run up more than $760,000 in unpaid purchases across the country.
Zachary Walker and Mario Bailey were indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 23 on charges including trafficking in an unauthorized access device, wire fraud and mail fraud. The case centers on fuel cards allegedly obtained through a fraudulent credit application submitted in the name of Voyager Express Inc.
According to information reported by MLive, Walker rented an apartment at the Jeffersonian Apartments in Detroit in July 2025. The following month, investigators say, he assumed the identity of the owner of Voyager Express, a trucking company based in the city.
Walker allegedly created an email address that closely resembled the legitimate company’s email and used it to submit a credit application to Coyne Oil & Propane. The application was approved, and eight fuel cards were mailed to the Detroit apartment, according to the allegations.
Prosecutors say Bailey later retrieved the cards. They were then used to purchase fuel in 23 states, generating a total balance of $760,320.19 that was never paid.
The allegations describe a form of identity-based fraud that targets the account and credit relationships trucking companies depend on to keep vehicles moving. Fuel cards are commonly issued through a carrier’s commercial account and can allow drivers or fleet personnel to purchase diesel at participating locations. When obtained through false information, the cards can be used at multiple fuel stops before the account holder or fuel provider identifies the problem.
The case also illustrates why fuel vendors and carriers closely review account applications, email addresses and card activity. A fraudulent application using a business’s identity can initially appear legitimate, particularly when it includes the company’s name and other publicly available information. Once cards are issued, purchases made in different locations can create significant losses before the account is shut down.
Both men are identified as being from the Atlanta, Georgia, area, although the alleged scheme involved a rented apartment and a trucking company in Detroit. The charging documents accuse Walker of taking the lead in obtaining the cards and Bailey of collecting them. The available information does not indicate whether either man worked as a commercial driver or operated a legitimate trucking business.
Walker appeared at an initial court hearing on Nov. 3 and was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. An unsecured bond does not require the defendant to deposit money or property with the court at the time of release, though the defendant remains obligated to follow the court’s conditions and appear as required.
A next court date for Walker and Bailey had not been announced in the information provided.
The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, they could face federal penalties tied to the alleged unauthorized use of access devices and the transmission of fraudulent information.
For professional drivers and small carriers, the case is a reminder that fuel-card security extends beyond the driver holding the card. Carriers typically need to monitor where cards are used, compare transactions with dispatch records and vehicle locations, and report suspicious activity quickly. Fuel vendors, meanwhile, can face substantial losses when a fraudulent account is accepted in a legitimate company’s name.
