A West Leechburg woman is charged with stealing nearly $300,000 from her employer over a little more than a year.

Ashley Anne Apperson, 34, was charged June 22 by Allegheny County Police with two felony counts of theft and one felony count each of access device fraud, unlawful use of a computer and receiving stolen property, according to court records. She also was charged with a misdemeanor count of misapplication of entrusted property.

According to a criminal complaint, Apperson was employed by Ventec Refrigeration in Penn Hills beginning in June 2022.

Investigators said her duties involved accounting responsibilities, including payroll processing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, check printing and credit card reconciliation.

The complaint states that, after Apperson’s employment was terminated May 11, company officials discovered about 88 checks issued to Apperson between Jan. 13, 2025, and May 6. Police said the checks were not authorized by the business.

Investigators allege that records showed the checks were deposited into a bank account owned by Apperson and her husband. According to the complaint, funds from the account were used for expenses, including mortgage payments, vehicle payments, utility bills, restaurants, vacations, online transactions and gambling-related activity.

The complaint further alleges that company credit card records showed unauthorized purchases between September 2024 and April that were not for business purposes.

According to investigators, the value of the unauthorized checks totaled about $285,000, while unauthorized credit card purchases totaled just more $14,000, for a combined amount of just under $300,000.

The complaint states that Apperson was interviewed by investigators June 17.

According to the affidavit, she admitted writing unauthorized company checks to herself and changing payee information in the company’s QuickBooks accounting system after the checks were printed. The affidavit also says she acknowledged that certain credit card purchases were for her personal benefit.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 6 before District Judge Anthony DeLuca in Penn Hills.