Business and Finance

A former controller for Cepia LLC, maker of the popular Zhu Zhu Pets robotic hamster toys, was indicted for mail fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $400,000 from the Clayton-based company.

Joseph Van Gronigen, 41, of Hillsboro, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two felony counts of mail fraud, the U.S. attorney’s office said Thursday. He is expected to appear in federal court later this week.

According to the indictment, between September 2007 to January 2010, Van Gronigen allegedly embezzled more than $400,000 from Cepia for his own use and to pay his own expenses cash advance no faxing. He was employed by Cepia from 2005 to January this year and had been the company’s controller since 2008.

Cepia brought the situation to the attention of the FBI and attorney general’s office.

Russell Hornsby is founder, owner and chief executive of Cepia LLC. His Zhu Zhu Pets were the must-have toy of Christmas 2009 and were named Toy of the Year in February by the Toy Industry Association.

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