A former bookkeeper has been charged with embezzlement for allegedly using a Hailey construction company's credit card for personal use, including trips to Mexico and Las Vegas.
Laura Wolfley, 42, a former bookkeeper for Bradley Construction, has been charged in Blaine County Magistrate Court with two felonies for allegedly misappropriating more than $14,000.
She was arraigned on Feb. 28 before Judge R. Ted Israel on charges of grand theft by embezzlement and fraudulent use of a financial transaction card. Wolfley could face up to 19 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted on both counts.
She was arrested on Feb. 27 by Hailey police following investigation of a complaint lodged by Bradley Construction owner James Bradley.
According to a Hailey police report, Bradley told investigators that Wolfley was employed as a bookkeeper and secretary for the company from 2003 through 2006. Bradley reported that in 2004 Wolfley was instructed to cancel a Capital One credit card account. She allegedly failed to do so, used the card instead for personal purchases of $14,068 and made payments on the account from company funds.
The police report says that Bradley became aware of the missing funds "when Wolfley failed to come to work in December 2006."
Court records listed a Hailey address for Wolfley, but according to the police report she was preparing to move away from the area at the time of her arrest.
"When we arrested her she had a U-Haul at her residence and told us she was moving to Seattle," Hailey Police Chief Brian McNary said Monday.
According to the police report, Wolfley acknowledged that she had used the Bradley Construction credit card for personal use, but told investigators that she "was planning to pay Bradley the money she owned him."
Wolfley is currently free after posting $5,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 15.
Israel denied Wolfley's request for a court-appointed public defender.
