By Jeremy Ratliff

A 20-year-old Tomahawk woman faces felony theft and fraud charges after reportedly stealing $34,000 over a nine-month period while employed at a local financial institution.

According to a criminal complaint filed with the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, Tabitha Mayer is a former employee of a financial institution in the City of Tomahawk. Between Aug. 2018 and June 2019, Mayer allegedly stole $34,000 while employed as a teller. Following Mayer’s resignation from her employer in June, the institution launched an internal investigation. As a result of the investigation, Mayer is accused of retaining cash from her cash drawer as a teller and engaging in recording manipulations in order to avoid detection of the cash she was stealing. The report indicated that in order to avoid detection, Mayer needed to keep a running total of her thefts in order to manipulate recording records.

During an interview with the investigating officer, she reportedly admitted to stealing money from the institution and engaging in making false financial recording entries, causing her teller drawer to balance without detection. Mayer reportedly admitted to taking $18,000.

Mayer now faces felony charges of theft from a financial institution (value exceeds $10,000 but does not exceed $100,000); theft in a business setting ($5000-$10,000) and fraud against financial institution (value exceeds $10,000 but does not exceed $100,000). Mayer’s initial court appearance is set for Wednesday, Dec. 18 and 1:30 p.m.