TV’s ‘Counting Cars’ accuses ex-employee of stealing $75,000 from the Vegas auto shop

A Las Vegas auto shop featured on a History Channel reality show is accusing a former employee of using more than $75,000 of the company’s money to cover personal expenses.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Count's Kustoms, which is featured on "Counting Cars" has filed a civil lawsuit on March 22 accusing former employee Joseph Frontiera of using company money to help pay for his personal car and airfare.

According to the lawsuit, Frontiera had signature stamps made of his bosses Danny Koker and Kevin Mack without their consent for the purpose of stamping checks in their absence.

Las Vegas Justice Court records show that Frontiera was charged in September with felony theft of more than $3,500 for a crime that happened in August 2013. A warrant for Frontiera’s arrest was issued but has not been served because he is living in Florida, said Steven Mack, the attorney representing Count’s Kustoms in the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Frontiera began working for the company in June 2013.

After Count’s Kustoms began finding “irregularities in its accounting as well as some of the clients’ accounts and projects,” according to the lawsuit, the company did its own background check on Frontiera and found that he had a criminal history of embezzlement and fraud with a past employer in Florida.

Frontiera’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the case on Tuesday.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 7:48 AM with the headline "TV’s ‘Counting Cars’ accuses ex-employee of stealing $75,000 from the Vegas auto shop."