Allegedly put fake employees on the payroll to steal checks

WOBURN – A Lawrence woman was arraigned today on larceny charges for allegedly stealing over $300,000 from two hotels where she worked as a manager, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced today.

Vilma Ajanel, 41, of Lawrence, was arraigned today in Middlesex Superior Court on charges of larceny over $250 (eight counts) and being a common and notorious thief. Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held on $1,000 cash bail and conditions that she surrender her passport, not travel outside of Massachusetts, and check in weekly with probation.

The defendant’s next court date is August 7 for a pre-trial hearing.

“This defendant created an elaborate scheme to defraud her employer and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars for her personal use,” District Attorney Ryan said. “She took advantage her position of authority and failed to do the job for which she was hired.”

According to the authorities, in 2010, the defendant was a general manager of Residence Inn in Tewksbury. As the general manager, she was responsible for and had access to hotel finances including payroll and petty cash, as well as the authority to make hiring decisions. As general manager of the Residence Inn, the defendant added three employees to the hotel’s payroll. These employees were never on the schedule and were not actually working at the hotel. The fake employees would appear on the payroll and receive a paycheck. The defendant asked another person to cash the checks and that person would give all of the money to the defendant.

In 2012, the defendant was transferred to the Courtyard Marriott in Billerica, where she continued in the role of general manager. Upon moving to the new hotel, the defendant also transferred the three fake employees to the Marriott’s payroll and continued to receive paychecks for the employees who did not exist. When another hotel employee noticed the new names on the payroll, they were removed, only to be added again by the defendant.

In addition, the defendant had access to large amounts of petty cash at each hotel where she worked. A review of the petty cash revealed that the defendant used the money for personal gain including groceries and gift cards. She would also wire the money to Guatemala, using her own name and also asking others whom she knew to wire the money on her behalf.

It is alleged that during this two year period the defendant stole more than $300,000 from the two hotels.

The hotel terminated the defendant’s employment in September 2012.

The case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office PACT Unit, Billerica Police and Tewksbury Police.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Elisha Willis, chief of the PACT Unit. The Middlesex District Attorney’s PACT Unit is dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of cases of public protection (including white collar, narcotics and organized crime), anti-terrorism, corruption, and cyber/technology.

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