A Mississippi man will spend more than 4 years in prison and must pay $2.6 million in restitution for stealing auto parts from his employer Volvo and reselling the parts online.

An Olive Branch man was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on Thursday for mail fraud and for making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced David Quarles, 35, to serve the 51-month prison term and to pay $2,606,529.87 in restitution to US Volvo Group and Chubb Insurance Company.

Quarles was employed at the Volvo distribution center in Byhalia, Mississippi and over the course of two years, from 2015 to 2017, Quarles embezzled auto parts from Volvo and sold them online.

Quarles used his position in the warehouse to alter shipping labels and inventory records and conceal his theft of the auto parts.

After his indictment for fraud in October 2018, Quarles attempted to purchase a Micro Draco, 7.62 x 39 mm caliber pistol from the Double Barrel Gun Store in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and in the process of attempting the purchase, he made a false statement on the Form 4473, claiming that he was not under indictment for a felony.

U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar noted that this prosecution was important for several reasons.

“When residents of North Mississippi attempt to make a quick buck by defrauding their employers, it does harm to this State, the companies that chose to do business here, and our honest, law-abiding citizens. We will do everything we can to hold these individuals accountable for their actions. Furthermore, we will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who possess or attempt to possess firearms when they are prohibited by law from doing so.” Lamar said.

This case was investigated by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was prosecuted by AUSA Parker Kline.