Columbia man accused of stealing more than $86,000 from employer over 2 years

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man has been charged with four felonies after he allegedly stole $86,219.24 from his employer.

Michael Masters was charged on Wednesday with stealing more than $25,000, tampering with computer data in order to defraud and two counts of forgery. A warrant was requested on Wednesday and a $25,000 bond was set. He is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster.

According to the probable cause statement, Masters was a salesman at a business – whose name was redacted in all available court documents. Another person at the business began reviewing transactions after theft was reported on July 29, the statement says.

The statement says that Masters approached customers who typically paid with cash, sold them a product, gave the customers a receipt with a fake item code and deleted the receipt in the business’ system. Receipts from Jan. 1, 2022-June 28, 2024, were recovered and totaled $86,219.24, court documents say.

Someone quoted in the statement – whose name was also redacted – said Masters was fired for theft. The employer also searched Masters’ work vehicle and discovered his inventory was “significantly short,” the statement says.