A routine internal audit at a popular Treasure Coast business has led to a major grand theft arrest. A Fort Pierce woman is currently facing felony charges after allegedly embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from her employer over a six-month span.
An investigation by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office revealed that an employee of Happy Days Bingo allegedly stole approximately 60,000 dollars in cash during her work shifts, resulting in her arrest on multiple grand theft charges.
The incident unfolded on June 3, when deputies from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of suspected internal theft at Happy Days Bingo, located at 8441 South U.S. Highway 1 in Port St. Lucie. Management alerted local law enforcement after an internal financial review uncovered alarming cash discrepancies. Initially, the business’s audit documented approximately 9,200 dollars missing across just ten of the employee’s shifts.
As the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division took over the case and dug deeper into the financial records, the scope of the missing funds expanded significantly. Detectives ultimately estimated that the 38-year-old employee, identified as Amber Nicole Brunt of Fort Pierce, had allegedly siphoned roughly 60,000 dollars in cash from the establishment over a period of six months.
After establishing probable cause through rigorous examination of business records and related evidence, authorities made contact with Brunt on June 5 and placed her under arrest without incident.
According to the official news release, the specific charges levied against her include:
- Grand Theft: Involving amounts of 20,000 dollars or more, but less than 100,000 dollars.
- Grand Theft: Involving amounts of 750 dollars to less than 5,000 dollars.
Following her arrest, Brunt was transported to the St. Lucie County Jail where she remained in custody. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office noted that this case highlights their ongoing efforts to address and investigate financial crimes impacting businesses throughout the Treasure Coast community. Authorities have emphasized that all charges are currently allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
