Ex-Las Vegas Gun Store Manager Accused of Embezzling $160K to Cover Gambling Debts
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A former manager of a gun store allegedly stole more than $160,000 after she lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling, police said in documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.
Debbie Walker faces a charge of theft above $100,000, according to court documents. In all, police suspect Walker embezzled more than $160,000 from Discount Firearms & Ammo, a firearms and ammunition retailer and gun range on Highland Drive near Resorts World.
In September, a person filed a police report about an employee potentially embezzling money from the business, documents said. In addition to selling firearms, the business also offers training and certification classes.
The investigation began when an employee determined at least $120,000 was missing, police said.
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Walker, who resigned around the time the employee made the police report, worked as a manager for about a decade and handled cash as part of her duties, police said. Part of her job included moving cash and checks, counting down money stored in the store’s safe and keeping track of deposits.
A couple of days after leaving her job, Walker reportedly sent a text message to an employee saying, “She was sorry and would pay us back,” an employee told police.
As part of their investigation, police reviewed a Station Casinos player’s card in Walker’s name, which showed a loss of $353,000, documents said. Police suspect the gambling losses are tied to the alleged theft writing in court documents: “The excessive gambling play and loan debts are signs of living outside [her] personal financial boundaries.”
A financial analysis determined the source of nearly $400,000 in cash deposits was unknown, according to police. Detectives also said they obtained video evidence of Walker “pocketing what appears to be money.”
Metro police arrested Walker on Friday, Feb. 14, records said. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Daniel Westmeyer granted her release from jail with electronic monitoring. She pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. A court date was scheduled for April 22.
