Woman admits role in $173K theft

COURTHOUSE » A Norristown woman faces probation and a hefty restitution bill after she admitted to taking part in another man’s alleged fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of more than $173,000 for their Upper Merion employer.

Kelly Lee Cehula, 42, of the 1300 block of West Elm Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to seven years’ probation after she pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft by deception in connection with incidents that occurred between July 2011 and August 2012 while she worked as an accounts payable clerk for The Westover Companies in Upper Merion.

Judge Gary S. Silow also ordered Cehula to complete 100 hours of community service as a condition of the sentence. The judge ordered Cehula to share with her alleged co-defendant in the payment of $173,623 in restitution to The Westover Companies or its insurer.

Marshall Conway Thompson III, 38, whose last known address was in the 1000 block of Walnut Street, Norristown, is still awaiting trial on theft-related charges. A bench warrant was previously issued for Thompson’s arrest after he failed to show up for a scheduled court proceeding while

he was free on bail on the charges, according to court records.

Officials said authorities are actively searching for Thompson.

An investigation began when officials of The Westover Companies, which owns numerous apartment and rental properties in the region, reported to Upper Merion police they suspected Thompson of stealing from the company while he worked as a maintenance person at some of the company’s properties in Downingtown and West Norriton. The company’s headquarters is located along American Avenue in Upper Merion.

With the charges, authorities alleged Thompson went to four area businesses or vendors and purchased plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other supplies such as copper line sets for his personal use but placed the purchases on the credit account of The Westover Companies. Many of the purchases were made on Saturdays when The Westover Companies’ headquarters were closed, detectives alleged.

Authorities alleged the fraudulent purchases totaled more than $173,000.

Detectives alleged Cehula intercepted the invoices mailed from the vendors and in order to ensure that the bills were paid she would falsify purchase orders.

“She admitted to processing the invoices for Thompson. She stated she did several of the invoices for Thompson as a favor and he pressured her to continue, saying they both would be in trouble if she stopped,” Upper Merion Detective Steven E. Geckle alleged in the arrest affidavit.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Thompson had been engaging in “side work” while employed by The Westover Companies, according to the criminal complaint.

Detectives said they learned Thompson also had been selling brand new copper as scrap at various scrap yards in the region, according to the criminal complaint. Thompson allegedly told scrap yard operators that the material was left over from jobs.