FORMER DOBBS FORD CONTROLLER
PLEADS GUILTY TO MAIL FRAUD
Memphis, Tenn - Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee,
and Rick Harlow, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the United States Secret
Service, announced today that Albert Franklin Matthews, a/k/a Bert Matthews, age 58, of Memphis,
Tennessee entered a guilty plea to mail fraud in connection with the theft of approximately $457,000.00
while he was employed as the Controller at Dobbs Ford.
According to the criminal information filed in U.S. District Court, and the statement of facts made by
Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. Andre III to U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson,
Matthews was employed as the Controller for Dobbs Ford Wolfchase, and Dobbs Ford Mt. Moriah by
AutoNation Inc., the parent company of the Dobbs Ford dealerships. Between approximately November
2004, and August 2010, Matthews engaged in a fraudulent scheme to divert approximately $457,122.73
from Dobbs to a money market investment account, and to pay personal credit card expenses.
The charge to which Matthews pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years of
imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for January
12, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service Memphis Field Office and prosecuted by
Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. Andre III on behalf of the government.
