Accountant charged with stealing $2.7 million in pet insurance money

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An El Segundo accountant has been charged with stealing $2.7 million from a pet insurance company and transferring it into international bank accounts, authorities said.

Stephen Anthony Frlekin, 58, allegedly stole the money between February and June 2008 while he worked as an accountant for Veterinary Pet Insurance in Brea, according to an Orange County district attorney’s office news release.

Frlekin is accused of diverting the money to his personal bank account, then wire-transferring most of it to accounts that he had opened in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. He allegedly laundered as much as $1 million in a 24-hour period.

Frlekin is expected to be arraigned Friday on 103 felony counts of money laundering, 48 felony counts of computer access and fraud, one felony count of grand theft and white-collar sentencing enhancements. He faces a maximum sentence of 114 years and eight months in prison if convicted.

-- Tony Barboza