August 12, 2010
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News: The Cook Is A Crook
It appears the cook was a crook. A former Danvers, CN executive chef pleaded guilty to stealing a restaurant's customer's credit card and using it for illegal purposes. Christian Guide, formerly with the Capital Grille Burlington, an upscale steakhouse in Danvers was sentenced to one year probation after pleading guilty to stealing the customer's credit card. Guide's accomplice, Thomas Mustone, a former truck driver was also charged with misuse of a credit card stemming from an incident where the two purchased two high end radio-controlled cars and accessories from the RC Car Store. In a separate hearing Mustone also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year probation.
The RC Car Store owner said he received a phone call from the victim's lender in February saying that the cardholder was disputing a charge of $1,311 processed in December. According to the Assistant District Attorney Patrick Collins two men were caught on surveillance cameras entering the car store and purchasing the two high-end radio-controlled cars with the stolen credit card. After the surveillance photo was posted on the Massachusetts' Most Wanted website, an officer familiar with Mustone identified him as one of the credit card thieves. Guide wasn't very quick to admit to stealing the card and said that he often finds cards that customers have left behind. Later in court, he admitted that he did steal the card.
Guide was also charged with an incident involving another victim's card. He used a second victim's card to purchase over $2,200 in radio-controlled cards and accessories at the Hobby Fever store. Charges are pending against Guide in Middlesex County where he faces felony credit card fraud and identity fraud charges. According to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, Guide is due back in court on August 19th. Meanwhile, a Capital Grille spokesperson said that the restaurant chain has a "zero tolerance policy" for employees committing fraud. Although the spokesperson would not confirm that Guide was fired, it was confirmed that he no longer works for the company.