Two additional McDonald’s employees have been arrested after it was announced late last week that workers in the Student Union had allegedly overcharged students’ Tiger Cards and pocketed the difference. This brings the total number of workers arrested in the LSU Police Department’s investigation to eight.
On March 26, four workers were arrested on felony theft charges, according to LSUPD spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde. The arrests were the result of a months-long investigation beginning in October 2013, which initially saw two employees booked on misdemeanor theft charges.
Recently, officers arrested McDonald’s employees Cassandra Nicole Bell, 31, of 24325 Thibodeaux St., and Ashley B. Phillips, 33, of 18117 Burnham Way, Greenwell Springs, La.
Bell and Phillips were arrested on March 27 and March 29, respectively, on felony theft charges, Lalonde said.
Felony thefts involve thefts of more than $1,500.
Lalonde also said LSUPD anticipates two more arrests.
The fraud scheme has led to speculation concerning whether or not employees of other businesses on campus that accept Tiger Cash may be committing the same crime.
Lalonde said the department makes an attempt to inform business managers to be aware of their employees’ actions, but the department may only interact with these businesses to an
extent.
“Law enforcement agencies cannot tell a business what procedures it can or cannot use.” Lalonde said.
The department is not prepared to release any information regarding the two additional suspects at this time, Lalonde said.
Chartwells, the company that operates LSU Dining, announced it planned to reimburse students after details of the arrest surfaced, and some students have acknowledged their Tiger Card accounts have been credited.
LSU Dining was unable to respond to The Daily Reveille’s request for comment.
The Advocate originally reported the employees could have stolen more than $30,000.