Couple charged with embezzlement from Cherokee business

 

August 21, 2019



A couple was charged with misdemeanor embezzlement from a Cherokee business but a felony charge was added because they allegedly used a company computer to do it.

Joe Allen Weve, 58, and Linda Kay Weve, 53, are listed as residing in Hazelton, Kansas. Both have been charged with violation of an Oklahoma statute via computer, a felony. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such imprisonment and fine. Court information states between September 2018 and July 29, 2019, the Weves allegedly communicated with Ace Hardware computer terminal system network to fraudulently misappropriate customer reward transactions.

Both were also charged with a misdemeanor of embezzlement, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or by a fine not exceeding $500, or both such fine and imprisonment.

A court affidavit by District Attorney’s Investigator Steve Tanio states that on July 30, he spoke with David and Nancy Parr, who own and manage Ace Hardware Store in Cherokee. David said he hired Joe Weve and Linda Weve in January 2015 as employees. In the past week, the Parrs said they became aware both Joe and Linda were diverting Ace Hardware Rewards program points from customers to the account of Joe’s mother, Rexene Weve.

Nancy said the rewards program is a cash value incentive program based on a customer’s purchase from Ace Hardware. After reviewing the store’s records, Nancy had been able to determine that rewards points for approximately $20,000 in cash sales had been diverted into Rexene’s account. She had documented the fraudulent transactions from Sept. 13, 2018, through July 29, 2019. Nancy documented instances when Rexene’s rewards points had been used by her husband, Joe Adolph Weve, to purchase items from the Ace Hardware store as a cash incentive transaction.

Nancy told Tanio the Cherokee Ace Hardware point of sale (POS) computer terminals are linked to the nationwide Ace Hardware computers to record customer transactions as well as keep a record of a customer’s rewards points. The rewards points then can be used by the customers to purchase store items. She said both Joe and Linda Weve had accessed the POS and diverted other customers' rewards points to Rexene’s account.

On Aug. 5, Tanio and Alfalfa County Sheriff Rick Wallace conducted post-Miranda videotaped interviews separately with each of the Weves. According to the affidavit, both admitted they had diverted other customers’ rewards points to Rexene Weve.

Charges were filed on Aug. 5. Both Joe and Linda Weve have been released on PR bonds. Their next court appearances are Sept. 11.

 

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