LUDINGTON — A Victory Township woman charged with embezzling gift cards from the company she worked for, pleaded guilty of the crime today in 51st Circuit Court. Valerie Kay Larr, 55, was originally charged by Michigan State Police for embezzling between $50,000 to $100,000 from Aramark Corporation, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Today, she accepted a plea agreement from Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola dropping the initial charge and adding a charge of embezzling between $20,000 to $50,000, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. As part of the plea, she faces up to 1 year in the county jail, serving 4 months up front.
Larr said she had a company credit card and, between September 2012 and May 2013, would use the card at Wal-Mart in Pere Marquette Township to purchase gift cards, which she would use for personal use.
The charges were filed by Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Spaniola following an investigation by the Michigan State Police Detective David Johnson.
Larr was arrested on Oct. 10, 2014 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14 at 3:15 p.m. She is currently free on bond.