BOSTON (AP) – A former employee of a business unit of Tyco Electronics was charged Thursday in a scheme in which he allegedly stole approximately $700,000 from the company.

James W. Sullivan, 55, of Beverly, was charged with three counts of mail fraud.

Federal prosecutors allege that Sullivan, the former director of human resources at M/A-COM, a business unit of Tyco Electronics, set up bogus companies that received payment for services that were never performed. The charges allege that Sullivan submitted and approved phony invoices over a five-year period, and used the payments for his own personal use.

The company uncovered the fraud in November 2001.

Sullivan could not be reached for comment Thursday. A message was left at his home. His attorney, Stephen Delinsky, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

If convicted, Sullivan faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the mail fraud counts.

AP-ES-06-17-04 1721EDT