ARREST MADE IN FRAUD CASE

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A former Comfort Inn, Lincolnton, hotel manager is arrested and charged with time card fraud.

Late last week, Lincolnton Police detective Chuck McGinley arrested Tatiana Gonzalez of 1340 John Beam Road, Vale, with three felony counts of embezzlement and three felony counts of identity theft.

The incident was reported to the police almost two weeks ago, where representatives with the owners of Comfort Inn -- Hospitality Management Group -- told police Gonzalez used workers with stolen identifications and allowed workers to log hours that weren't actually worked at the hotel.

Gonzalez was over the Lincolnton and Hickory Comfort Inn hotels.

An HMG representative told police the incidents happened in 2007 and 2008. The amount of the fraud in question is more than $100,000.

The same representative with HMG called Gonzales at home and told authorities Gonzalez "told her everything and then resigned."

Bond for Gonzalez was set at $8,000 secured. As of late Sunday night, Gonzalez had posted bond and was released from the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center.