MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A local bookkeeper is accused of using company money to fatten family members’ wallets.
Police say Tammy Davis wrote nearly $12,000 in fraudulent checks while she was the bookkeeper at Pearl’s Oyster House, on South Main Street downtown.
The alleged scheme went on for five and a half months. The checks were reportedly made out to Davis’s daughter and mother.
“That’s ballsy,” says Marilyn Malone, who works at a neighboring restaurant.
She says the bookkeeper is the person you have to trust most. After all, they handle all the money.
“Putting that in someone’s hands is a big deal. So, seeing them take advantage of it is super sad,” Malone says.
Police say Davis got caught when a new bookkeeper audited the restaurant’s finances and realized checks were going out to people who didn’t work there.
According to police, Davis admitted to writing the checks, but claimed her daughter was an employee. She also said payments to her mother came out of her own salary. However, investigators say the new bookkeeper proved both of those claims were lies.
Malone feels sorry for the honest, hardworking employees at Pearl’s.
“It’s not like they’re stealing from you but, you know, they might as well be,” Malone says.
She hopes the restaurant gets justice.
“They definitely deserve to have it resolved, just get it over with. Just rip off the band aid and start new,” Malone says.
If convicted, Davis faces up to 15 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
