Mar 25, 2015 3 min read

The accountant accused of stealing more than $200,000 from her Chartiers Township employer allegedly told police she wanted to “live the lifestyle” when confronted by investigators late last year, township police Sgt. Mike Filosi testified Wednesday.

Carrie Ann Ammons-Daviduk was held for court by District Judge David Mark on more than 140 counts of theft, forgery, unauthorized checks and other felony charges after township police said she siphoned $217,830 from Valley Bulk Transport Inc. between April and September.

“She did express great sorrow for everything she did,” Filosi testified during the preliminary hearing, adding she was envious of company owner John Washabaugh’s wealth. “She wanted to live the lifestyle, as well.”

Filosi testified Ammons-Daviduk admitted last November to stealing the money when interviewed by police inside her North Franklin Township home and asked them if Washabaugh would forgo having charges filed against her. Ammons-Daviduk, 38, of 1285 Overlook Drive, has remained free on $50,000 unsecured bond since charges were filed Dec. 22.

Amber Hradil, who took over for Ammons-Daviduk as Valley Bulk’s controller last September, testified she became concerned after she reviewed the company’s financial records and found oddities in payroll. Hradil said Ammons-Daviduk had two payroll accounts set up in her name that included an old W-2 statement for full-time employees that hadn’t been used in months and a 1099 form that had regular deposits, some as high as $8,950, over 21 consecutive weeks.

“I just saw a very large lump sum of money paid between the two accounts,” Hradil said. “It was odd she wasn’t set up with a W-2 with taxes being taken out.”

She said she also found numerous checks printed from the company’s computerized accounting system made out to “cash” with Washabaugh’s name signed on the checks. The 18 checks totaling nearly $50,000 were cashed, but the accounting system had been altered later to show they were written out to various vendors. Hradil said Ammons-Daviduk was the only person who would have had password access to the accounting system for the bulk delivery company at 919 Western Ave.

Ammons-Daviduk was paid one final direct deposit into her account in mid-October, when she resigned her position by sending a text message.

Michael Worgul, Ammons-Daviduk’s defense attorney, called no witnesses during the preliminary hearing. Her formal arraignment on the charges is scheduled for May 28.

Chartiers Township police Chief James Horvath said before the preliminary hearing the amount of money allegedly stolen was surprising.

“It’s a shame that’s it’s happening,” Horvath said. “Our business people are taking a hit. They trust people, and this is what happens.”

Online court records show Ammons-Daviduk was arrested on similar charges in Butler County in May 1998. She pleaded guilty a year later to one felony theft charge and was ordered to pay $8,088 in restitution to Quality Systems of Butler, along with a $2,500 fine, court records indicate.