Arkansas Woman Charged with Theft After $20K Overpayment

The $16.50 hourly wage mistakenly became $1,650 per hour for a 12-hour shift.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:12am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled dollar bill against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually illustrating the serious legal implications of an employee refusing to return a large payroll overpayment.A harsh, gritty close-up of a crumpled dollar bill reflects the stark consequences of an employee's refusal to return a significant payroll overpayment.Jonesboro Today

A 50-year-old woman from Jonesboro, Arkansas has been charged with theft after she was mistakenly paid $20,000 for a 12-hour shift that should have only paid her $16.50 per hour. When asked to return the overpayment, the woman claimed she thought the money was from a bank loan and had already spent it on truck repairs before cutting off communication with her employer.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges employers face when dealing with payroll errors, as well as the potential legal consequences for employees who refuse to return overpayments, even if the mistake was not their own.

The details

According to the Jonesboro Police Department, the woman was meant to receive $16.50 per hour from her employer, Superior Senior Care. However, on May 10, 2025, she was accidentally overpaid, resulting in nearly $20,000 for just one day's work. When asked about the money, the woman claimed she thought it was from a bank loan she had applied for. Superior Senior Care said they gave her ample time to repay the money, but she said she had spent it to repair her husband's semi-truck before breaking off all communication with the company.

  • On May 10, 2025, the woman was accidentally overpaid $20,000 for a 12-hour shift.
  • The woman was picked up on a bench warrant in Putnam County, Tennessee on Monday.

The players

Superior Senior Care

The employer that mistakenly overpaid the woman by nearly $20,000 for a 12-hour shift.

Jonesboro Police Department

The law enforcement agency that charged the woman with theft greater than $5,000 but less than $25,000 after she refused to return the overpayment.

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What’s next

The woman is scheduled to appear in court in May to face the theft charge.

The takeaway

This case serves as a cautionary tale for both employers and employees, highlighting the importance of promptly addressing payroll errors and the legal consequences that can arise when overpayments are not returned, even if the mistake was not the employee's fault.