Propane firm manager accused of embezzling $153,000

A manager for a Chester County propane company is accused of stealing more than $153,000 from his employer.

Bryan Janesko, 38, of Newville, Pa., was arrested Wednesday on numerous counts of theft, forgery and receiving stolen property, West Whiteland Township police said.

From December 2007 until September, police said, Janesko set up a phony company and generated invoices to Suburban Propane in Exton for more than $150,000 in services, such as office cleaning and lawn care, that were never performed. Detectives said an investigation indicated that Janesko had deposited payment checks into a bank account he controlled and also charged more than $900 in household appliances to the company, but took the items for himself.

Janesko, who was released on 10 percent of $10,000 bail, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 9, court records show. - Kathleen Brady Shea