Nov. 10—WORTHINGTON — A Worthington woman has been charged with felony theft by swindle following a Sept. 3 incident.
Ariel Marle Reveles, 21, who was working as a cashier at a Worthington business, is charged with allegedly stealing nearly $5,000 from her employer.
The Nobles County Sheriff's Office was notified of the incident Sept. 3, following an internal investigation by Blue Line Junction's management. According to the report, Reveles engaged in the criminal act after receiving a call from an individual known as "Kirk Nixon."
During the call, which was overheard by coworkers, Reveles was instructed to extract money from the business to rectify alleged "fire extinguisher non-compliance issues."
Reveled reportedly did not consult her manager and instead, persuaded fellow employees to grant her access to the office and safe where the business's cash was stored.
Security footage from the store reportedly captured Reveles placing the money into her purse, the investigation later revealing that she deposited the stolen $4,995 into her checking account, and subsequently transferred it to a third party through Bitcoin.
Upon questioning by law enforcement, Reveles reportedly admitted to the theft but claimed she was acting under the guidance of the caller, ostensibly to save the business from a hefty fine. However, her actions were unauthorized by her employer, leading to her arrest.
If convicted, Reveles faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.