CHIPPEWA FALLS — An Eau Claire woman has been charged with stealing more than $13,000 from a restaurant she worked at in the town of Lafayette.
Lauren A. Wright, 40, was charged in Chippewa County Court with one count of theft from a business of between $10,000 and $100,000, a felony. Wright is slated to make an initial appearance in court June 16 before Judge Benjamin Lane.
According to the criminal complaint, the thefts occurred between August and September 2024 from the Wissota High Shores Supper Club. The general manager at the restaurant came to the sheriff’s office and met with an investigator about money missing from the business.
The general manager “indicated that while she was reviewing bank deposits, she discovered multiple deposits that did not make sense or were out of order,” the complaint reads. “(The general manager) explained that she had confronted Lauren Wright about the deposits as she was the employee who would have had control of the deposits during that time. (She) explained that Lauren and her had a private conversation and Lauren admitted to taking money from the business due to ‘financial problems.'”
It also appeared that Wright had attempted to repay some of the money taken. The general manager had a spreadsheet that showed the missing money.
The criminal complaint shows that money was missing from 16 different bank deposits over the two-month period, totaling $13,318.71.
“I also confirmed with (the general manager) that the deposits are cash only that Lauren Wright was responsible for. (She) indicated that in order for Lauren to have taken the cash, she would have to not have made the deposit, which is shown in the spreadsheet.”
Wisconsin online court records indicate Wright has never been charged with a crime in the state before.
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