UPDATED: Brothers Accused of Swindling Eagan Company

Two brothers from and Burnsville are scheduled to appear in court in March after police say they allegedly stole $285,000 from an Eagan business.

Samuel Okon Edem, 57, of Apple Valley, and Ernest O. Edem, 50, of Burnsville, each are charged with with five counts of theft by swindle, all felonies.

According to the criminal complaints against the two, in March 2010, Eagan Police were called to a business on Lone Oak Road in Eagan after the branch manager allegedly told them the company was charged for services that had never been performed.

The bills allegedly were paid to a courier service called Ephicient Pick Up and Delivery Service, which had billed the company for $390,000 of service after performing only $105,000 of the work, the complaint says.

Ephicient is a one-van service owned and operated by Ernest Edem, the only employee, the complaint says.

Invoices from Ephicient allegedly were processed by Samuel Edem, a longtime employee of the Eagan business who worked in accounts payable.

Police say that Samuel Edem repeatedly overpaid Ephicient from the Eagan business from 2007 to 2009, the complaint says; Samuel Edem allegedly could not provide supporting documentation for services rendered by Ephicient, according to the complaint.

Ernest Edem allegedly apologized and said he wished he could take back the actions when company officials confronted him, the complaint says.

Samuel Edem, who worked at the company for 10 years, said he had no knowledge of overbilling, according to the complaint; company officials determined he allegedly hadn't followed proper accounting practices, the complaint says.

An omnibus hearing for Samuel Edem is scheduled for March 26 in Dakota County Court; a hearing for Ernest Edem is scheduled for March 13.

Each count of theft by swindle carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.