Ex top-fruit warehouse controller David Lenihan has been accused of stealing around £1 million from two Yakima companies.
Lenihan was in court on Wednesday in Yakima County Superior Court, Washington State, US, on one count of first-degree theft.
He stands accused of manipulating the accounts of Washington Fruit and Produce and Underwood Fruit and Warehouse, between 1996 to 2005.
According to an affidavit filed by Yakima police, Lenihan owned fruit ranches and the companies paid the cost of production. Then they deducted that cost, as well as the expense of packing and marketing the fruit, before paying Lenihan.
The 54-year-old is accused of changing the start and end balances of his farm's accounts, to dupe the two companies into overpay him.
Lenihan remains in custody.
