Winder Woman Accused of Stealing Thousands from Employer

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports a Winder woman is accused of stealing from her employer by creating a fictitious employee, whose paychecks were deposited into her bank account. 

Police are searching for Summer Payne, 37, of Winder, who is accused of stealing $5,844 from Peach State Roofing of Lawrenceville.

The alleged scheme was discovered when the owner of Peach State Roofing hired an accountant to clear up a payroll tax issue. According to the AJC report, the owner discovered that more than $100,000 in payroll taxes had not been sent to the Internal Revenue Service and told Payne, then employed as the payroll manager, that she would be terminated for the error. The owner reportedly allowed Payne to remain on the job to train her successor, during which time she allegedly created the fictitious employee "Pedro Perez."

Payne is charged with theft by deception, a felony, and AccessNorthGa.com reports warrants for her arrest were issued last week As of Thursday afternoon, she was not in police custody.

According to AccessNorthGa.com, police attempted to locate Payne at her last known address in Winder but said the residence there was vacant.

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