A Costco Wholesale auditor man accused of filing more than $50,000 in fraudulent work-related expenses has been charged with first-degree theft.

Anthony Tolliver, 40, filed the claims between January 2007 and January 2009, according to charging documents filed last month in King County Superior Court. The total amount fraudulently claimed by Tolliver is $53,684.75 in U.S. dollars and $8,957.33 Canadian, court papers said.

Issaquah police were contacted by Costco last winter after a corporate travel manager investigated Tolliver's expense reports, charging papers said. The travel manager contacted hotels and rental car companies to find out what the actual costs were. She said that that the expenses Tolliver turned in to Costco were higher than what he actually paid.

Issaquah police found that Tolliver deposited more than $100,000 into his personal bank account between 2007 and 2008 - the same time he was traveling extensively for Costco, court papers said.

When the Costco security director contacted Tolliver in January, Tolliver excused himself to use the restroom and never returned. Tolliver is slated to be arraigned on the theft charge on Oct. 13.