Furniture-store worker accused of stealing $75,000

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An accounts-payable clerk at a Poplar Bluff furniture store may face charges after her arrest Thursday morning on suspicion of fraudulently charging nearly $75,000.

An accounting manager at Hefner Furniture and Appliance noticed discrepancies in the company's credit-card account, Poplar Bluff Police Capt. David Sutton said.

"The fraudulent charges were made to a single account, with no name attached to the payee," Sutton said. "... They did an internal investigation and developed Nicole Hammonds as a possible suspect before contacting the police department."

On Sept. 30, Sutton said, the department was contacted about the alleged theft.

"Detective (Josh) Stewart and the Hefner account manager sat down with the employee, and she admitted to making the fraudulent charges," Sutton said. "... She really wasn't able to give a reason" for the alleged theft.

The investigation, Sutton said, revealed Hammonds stole $74,000 from the business over the course of several months. The theft, Sutton said, goes back to at least January.

"It appears to all be fraudulent charges," Sutton said. "There is no mention of cash or merchandise."

Hammonds, 24, of Poplar Bluff was arrested about 10 a.m. Thursday at the store.

"She had made an agreement with the company to try to make restitution, and she was not able to do it, so they went forth with the criminal charges," Sutton said.

Hammonds, who was arrested on suspicion of felony stealing, was booked and released pending review of the case by the Butler County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.