Fraud guilty plea connected to killing?

Feds say David Dinsbeer defrauded Bubba Burgers of $904,000 with help of its vice president, Richard Hollis

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Details of a Jacksonville man's guilty plea on fraud charges Wednesday includes information he could be connected to the unsolved murder of the officer of the defrauded company in Brunswick, Ga., in 2012.

David Allen Dinsbeer, 37, pleaded guilty in federal court to 16 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Court document show Dinsbeer worked with an employee of Bubba Burger, owner Hickory Foods, in a scheme in which he made up phony companies and submitted invoices for work that was never done.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Dinsbeer may be connected to Bubba Burgers' vice president of operations, Richard Hollis, who was shot and killed while changing a tire on Interstate 95 in Glynn County in September 2012.

According to the indictment of Dinsbeer, withdrew money from the phony suppliers' back accounts and give cash, cashiers' and bank checks to Hollis. 

"His signature could be on certain items, certain invoices that are OKed for payment, which may not have been his actual signature. So you don't know," said Dale Carson, an attorney and former FBI agent. "But clearly and routinely in these fraud cases, individuals on the inside are required in order to make them function properly."

The fraud case was investigated by the FBI.  Investigators have not indicated Dinsbeer as a suspect in Hollis' murder.  

Dinsbeer is out on bond on the fraud conviction as he awaits his sentencing. He faces up to 40 years in prison for the fraud charges.

Dinsbeer's mother declined comment Thursday, a spokesperson for Hickory Foods and Hollis' family were unavailable to comment Thursday.