Arrest warrant issued for former vape shop employee accused of embezzlement

A warrant of arrest has been issued for a Sallisaw resident accused of embezzling from a local vape shop.

Andrea “Andy” R. Brown, 31, was charged Sept. 12 in Sequoyah County District Court and a warrant was issued for Brown‚s arrest the same day, according to court records.

Sallisaw Police officer Caleb Dotson reported on Aug. 31 he responded to Vapor Maven on Cherokee Street regarding two employees possibly stealing from the shop. The reporting party said they were having issues with money totals being off and Brown was one of two employees that had recently worked there.

He said the two employees had allegedly been suspected of taking money from both the register and change safe, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.

The reporting party said the first recorded shortage was on Aug. 22 with the register being $334 short and the second on Aug. 26, in the same amount. Surveillance video reportedly showed footage of Brown entering the store, walking to the register, allegedly removing money and then counting it out.

The video then shows Brown turning slightly away from the camera, putting something in a left front pocket, and then leaving the shop. Brown was reportedly not scheduled to work that day and the register was found to be $380 short.

After the shortage was reported to corporate and the two employees believed to be responsible were terminated, the reporting party said it was also discovered the change safe was $320 short. The change safe was counted on Aug. 30 and was reported to contain $500 but when it was counted the following day, the safe only contained $180. The total amount taken was said to be $1,034.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said if found guilty of the crime, Brown faces imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for not more than two years, or in the county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed $5,000, or fine, imprisonment and restitution.