Memorial woman accused of stealing more than $220,000 from employer

A Memorial woman is being sued over claims she unlawfully took more than $220,000 from her former employer.

SPF Corporation of America filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, June 12 in the Harris County District Court against Memorial resident Ana Elena Ceja, citing breach of fiduciary duty, violations of the Theft Liability Act and conversion.

SPF says its former employee Ceja used her position as a part-time accountant to make unauthorized purchases on the company credit card and to charge the company overtime for hours she did not work.

When the company confronted Ceja about these credit card thefts, fraudulent transfers and timecard falsifications, she agreed to pay back the money she took, according to the brief.

The suit alleges that though Ceja owes the company more than $220,000, she has only paid $16,000 in restitution.

SPF is seeking attorney's fees, damages and court costs.  It is being represented in the case by Houston attorneys J. Beverly and Katherine Gonyea.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-34125.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.