MillerCoors files lawsuit against former employee, alleging he stole $13.4 million

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- MillerCoors has filed a lawsuit against a former employee -- alleging he stole $13.4 million over 11 years. This, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal -- reporting a civil complaint was filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court last Monday, August 28th.

The Milwaukee Business Journal reports the complaint says that David Colletti of Oconomowoc "acted as the inside man" by creating 15 shell corporations with two former employees, his wife, and nine other friends. The complaint says Colletti then submitted fraudulent invoices to Miller Brewing Company, and subsequently, MillerCoors.

Paul Edwards, a co-worker of Colletti's, was named as a co-defendant in the civil lawsuit, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.

In April, the Milwaukee Business Journal reports MillerCoors said it was investigating the possible embezzlement by Colletti and Edwards and was referring them to federal authorities for prosecution.

No criminal charges have been filed.

In a statement to the Milwaukee Business Journal, MillerCoors says this:

“MillerCoors is pursuing a civil suit against Dave Colletti, another former employee and a variety of former vendors in order to recover the significant dollars that were stolen from our company. We don’t comment on the specifics of active litigation, but we were compelled to file this suit in order to protect our interest by attempting to recover the money.”

Including Colletti, there are 29 co-defendants listed in the lawsuit.

The Milwaukee Business Journal reports Colletti worked for MillerCoors for 31 years.

MillerCoors is seeking punitive damages in the civil lawsuit.

READ IT: MillerCoors civil lawsuit complaint

CLICK HERE for more on this story via the Milwaukee Business Journal.