3 area suspects linked to theft of thousands from LaPlace employer
Published 12:13 pm Monday, August 17, 2015
LAPLACE — Three River Parishes residents are facing charges they stole thousands of dollars from their former LaPlace employer.
According to St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre, deputies first responded to an East Airline Highway business April 15 to begin an internal theft investigation.
When management of the business questioned employees about the company’s recent losses, three employees quit without notice, Tregre said in a release.
“An internal audit conducted by the company revealed documentation for transactions for each of the former employees, missing files and altered checks,” Tregre said.
“Based on evidence collected during the investigation, detectives obtained judicial, court-ordered arrest warrants for racketeering, theft totaling approximately $20,075 and forgery.
On Friday, detectives arrested:
- Keyetta (aka Kenyetta) Tebault, 39, of LaPlace and booked her with racketeering, theft (23 counts; $4,015), and forgery (2 counts).She bonded out Friday on a $53,000 bond.
- Ranza Smith, 43, of Destrehan and booked her with racketeering, theft (47 counts; $5,855) and forgery. She bonded out of jail Friday on a $72,000 bond
- Sonia Tucker, 46, of LaPlace and booked her with racketeering and theft (40 counts; $10,205). She remains in custody in lieu of a $60,000 bond.