An Oxford woman accused of stealing more than $50,000 from her former Bethel employer allegedly used the money on gift cards, a digital camera and Christmas decorations, among other items.

Michele Saad, 42, told police she used her employer’s credit cards and company accounts at stores like Home Depot, Staples and Costco over a period of five years, and she occasionally had items she ordered online shipped to her home at 40 Ancient Highway.

That is according to an arrest warrant affidavit that charges Saad with first-degree larceny, illegally obtaining goods and services and illegal use of a credit card for stealing from Memry Corp., a manufacturer for the medical industry where Saad worked in the company’s financial department for 12 years until being fired for the alleged embezzlement in 2011.

The thefts began in 2007, according to the warrant. That is the same year in which Michele and Gregory Saad purchased a 2,810-square-foot Colonial-style home in Oxford for $467,700, according to Oxford land records.

Saad, who now works in accounting for a pharmaceutical company in New Haven, told police that she began having items shipped straight to her home that she ordered via company accounts from Grainger, a distributor of mainly construction supplies, and Uline, a distributor of industrial shipping and packing materials, the affidavit states. She told police she originally would write a check to those companies for the difference of what she bought, but eventually stopped doing that, the affidavit states.

“Saad explained that when she started making these purchases, she continued doing it because she was getting away with it,” the affidavit states. “Saad stated that she did know what she was doing was wrong, and she was worried about getting caught.”

The document goes on to state that she was working on getting the entire amount she stole to repay Memry Corp. She said she is taking full responsibility for her actions and admitted to taking all of what she is accused of stealing, although she does not recognize $577.13 in purchases but said she would pay that, too, if she needed.

According to the affidavit, Saad used Memry’s accounts to buy: 

• $6,085 from Grainger (items not revealed);
• $7,232 from Uline (items not revealed);
• $14,154 from Costco for items including, but not limited to, food, DVD sets and clothing;
• $16,652 from Costco for items including, but not limited to, Crayola sets, gift cards and a digital camera;
• $9,269 from Home Depot on items including, but not limited to, home cleaning supplies, garden supplies, Christmas decorations, lawn supplies, cooking supplies and other household items.

The affidavit said she was caught by a former co-worker who discovered that some of the items ordered by Memry were to be shipped to 40 Ancient Highway in Oxford, which the woman knew to be Saad’s home address. The co-worker then told executives at Memry who investigated further and decided to call police and file criminal charges against Saad after they fired her.

If convicted of the most serious charge, first-degree larceny, a Class B felony, Saad could face between 1 and 20 years in prison and/or up to a $15,000 fine. According to the affidavit, Saad inquired with police about what would happen to her if she repaid the money in one lump sum. Police state in the document that they told her she would be in a better position going into court if she had made plans to repay the money.

Three Memry Corp. executives told police that not having Saad arrested “sends the wrong message to other employees and that Saad needs to be (held) fully accountable for her actions,” according to the affidavit. They said they wanted to continue with the criminal complaint, even if Saad can come up with the money to repay the company, according to the affidavit.

Saad, who did not comment when reached by Patch, has been released on a written promise to appear for arraignment at Danbury Superior Court on Tuesday.

- Christine Rose contributed to this report.