This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Montpelier, Vt. • Federal authorities are investigating a former Cabot cheese employee suspected of stealing machine parts from the Vermont-based company and using them in his side business selling maple syrup production equipment.

Randall Swartz is accused of buying parts for Cabot Creamery with company funds and then using them to build machines he sold in his business. Cabot did not say whether the parts are used in any of its equipment.

The FBI searched Swartz's Orleans, Vermont, home in March.

The Burlington Free Press first reported on the investigation.

Neither Swartz nor his lawyer immediately returned phone calls seeking comment.

The FBI says Swartz had worked at Cabot for 20 years and was fired in February for stealing from the company.

No charges have been filed.