crime
Woman Faces Felony Charges After Keeping $19,388 From Payroll Error
A woman refused to return $19,388 after a payroll error paid her $1,650 an hour instead of $16.50 and now faces felony theft charges
A payroll system error turned a $198 shift into a $19,586 payday, and the employee refused to give the money back.
Rene Nichole Coleman now faces felony theft charges that could send her to prison for up to 10 years.
Coleman worked for a business in Jonesboro, Arkansas, earning $16.50 per hour.
On May 10, 2025, a payroll system error changed her hourly rate to $1,650 for a 12-hour shift.
The $19,388 Mistake
Investigators determined Coleman was overpaid $19,388 as a result of the payroll system error.
Instead of receiving $198 for her 12-hour shift, she was paid $19,586.
When the CEO discovered the error months later, she contacted Coleman and asked her to return the excess payment.
Coleman refused to return the money.
Felony Charges Filed
On August 12, 2025, the CEO filed a theft report with police.
The CEO provided financial documents and emails to support the theft claim.
Prison Time Ahead
Coleman's bail was set at $15,000.
She was taken into custody in April 2026 on a bench warrant.
A Class C felony in Arkansas carries a sentence of 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Coleman, 50, now faces a decade behind bars for refusing to return money that was never supposed to be hers.