Ovation's CFO charged with stealing about $600,000

The chief financial officer of an Indianapolis audio-visual company is accused of stealing about $600,000 from the business and faces multiple felony charges, the Marion County prosecutor's office said Monday.

Alfred Talens, the former CFO of Ovation Audio-Video Solutions, is alleged to have started stealing from the business four months after he was hired in 2011, a statement from the prosecutor's office said.

In total, Talens is accused of using about $600,000 worth of the company's money for personal expenses, including appliances, technology, home improvement materials for his home, a sports club membership, airline tickets, Indiana Pacers tickets and payments on a loan for a recreational vehicle.

Officials from the prosecutor's office said the company reported suspicious purchases, cash withdrawals and checks written from Ovation's corporate accounts to the prosecutor's grand jury division in May 2014.

"Employers and coworkers place a great deal of trust in individuals who have authority over a company's finances," Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said. "Too often we see that trust exploited by individuals who divert company dollars and property to their personal use, as alleged in this case."

Talens also is accused of taking $240,000 from a client he was representing while acting as an investment adviser at Ascension Wealth Management Group, the statement said.

He was arrested on June 22 and is scheduled to appear at a pretrial conference in August.

The Indianapolis Star left a message Monday afternoon with his attorney for comment.

Call Star reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelAdams317.