A former Shreveport company controller is wanted after police say he used two American Express business cards to make approximately $139,487.74 in unauthorized transactions over more than a year.
Brett Burdges, 43, had worked for Custom Built Cabinet & Supply since 2021, overseeing accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchases and the company’s balance sheet. He had been issued an American Express Blue Card for legitimate business expenses.
Investigators say Burdges also opened an American Express Platinum Card under the company’s business account without authorization from the owners. Police later identified unauthorized activity on both cards.
The suspected fraud came to light in August 2026 after American Express contacted one of the company’s owners about questionable charges. Burdges was terminated on August 11, and detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest on September 3.
An American Express Fraud Alert Started the Investigation
The company began examining its financial records after an owner was contacted by American Express about suspected fraudulent activity. That internal review uncovered numerous transactions investigators say had not been authorized by the business.
Records showed unauthorized transactions on the Blue Card issued to Burdges between June 2025 and August 2026. His position gave him responsibility for accounts payable, accounts receivable, company purchases and the business’s balance sheet while the transactions were occurring.
Shreveport-Bossier Journal reported that financial records provided to detectives placed the unauthorized transactions across the two accounts at approximately $139,487.74.
Police Say He Opened a Second Company Card
Investigators say the Blue Card issued for Burdges’ business use was not the only account involved. He is accused of opening an American Express Platinum Card under the company’s existing business account without authorization from its owners.
Police say unauthorized purchases appeared on the Platinum Card between February and August 2026, overlapping with the activity identified on the Blue Card.
The available police information does not provide a separate total for each card or identify what was purchased. The approximately $139,487.74 figure covers the unauthorized transactions investigators identified across both accounts.
Texts After His Termination Became Part of the Case
Investigators also obtained text messages exchanged between Burdges and the company’s human resources director after his August 11 termination.
Police say the messages contained statements indicating that Burdges acknowledged the unauthorized charges and expressed a willingness to repay the money. Detectives used the financial records and communications during the investigation before obtaining an arrest warrant.
On September 3, detectives obtained a warrant charging Burdges with one count of access device fraud. As of September 8, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office active warrant list continued to list the warrant as outstanding.
The Shreveport Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit is seeking information that could help locate Burdges. The access device fraud charge is an accusation and has not been proven in court. Burdges is presumed innocent unless convicted.
What Businesses Can Check on Employee Credit Cards
American Express says business customers can view employee cards associated with their account in one place and track how much each employee spends. Regularly reviewing that list can also help account owners spot an employee card they do not recognize or no longer expect to be active.
American Express also allows eligible business customers to set employee spending limits and receive real-time alerts when an employee spends outside approved merchant categories or when a transaction is blocked because of a spending limit. The company notes that spending limits are not an absolute guarantee that every charge above the selected amount will be prevented.
Businesses can freeze and unfreeze employee cards through their American Express account. When an employee no longer needs purchasing access, account owners can review the cards attached to the business account, freeze cards when necessary and continue checking transactions rather than relying only on the employee responsible for making or recording purchases.
In this case, the company began its broader review only after American Express flagged suspected fraud. Businesses that receive an unexpected card alert, see an unfamiliar employee card or notice spending that does not match an employee’s role can review the underlying transactions and cardholder list before additional charges accumulate.