BELLEVILLE, Ill. — A Belleville man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he stole more than $372,000 from a Hartford-based transportation business through fraudulent debit card use over nearly two years.
Matthew D. Howard, 29, was formally charged on June 17, 2025, with two Class 1 felony counts of theft and one Class 3 felony for use of a credit or debit card with intent to defraud.
According to court records, between June 1, 2023, and March 19, 2025, Howard allegedly misrepresented himself to a bank as the authorized cardholder of four debit cards belonging to the company. Investigators say he then used these cards to siphon funds from the business.
The case was investigated and brought forward by the Hartford Police Department. Howard has since been granted pretrial release as the legal proceedings continue.
If convicted, he faces significant prison time and financial penalties under Illinois law.
