Second person charged with gas theft

EPHRATA - A second person is charged with helping to steal about $80,000 from a Moses Lake Construction Company.

Prosecutors charged Mikhail I. Vorobey, 23, of Moses Lake, with first degree theft, according to Grant County Superior Court records.

Vorobey's wife, Galina A. Vorobey, was charged with first degree theft in November, according to court records.

Galina Vorobey was fired from her brother-in-law's construction company, Masco Construction, after the company allegedly had problems with theft. The owner reportedly suspected she was addicted to prescription drugs, according to a Moses Lake police report. The owner later discovered  a credit card used for fuel was missing.

When the victim discovered the theft, he went to a gas station where the card was used. When he viewed the surveillance tape, he reportedly saw Galina Vorobey using the card, according to court records.

The victim and his wife allegedly confronted Galina Vorobey about the theft, according to the police report. She reportedly denied taking the card at first, before admitting to taking two cards.

Galina Vorobey allegedly told investigators she took the cards, saying she charged people half the price of gas in cash and used the card to pay, according to the police report. She reportedly used the cash to purchase narcotics.

Galina Vorobey allegedly told police later her husband was involved in the thefts, according to the police report. After she took the card, he reportedly suggested the idea to use the cards to make money. Either Galina or Mikhail Vorobey allegedly went with the person when they got the fuel.

Police reportedly determined the two were responsible for charging $80,000 on the cards.