CHARLESTON, SC – A brazen scheme to pilfer funds from the Days Inn on Meeting Street has landed two former employees in federal hot water. Star Barkley, 39, of Ladson, and Audrina Lincoln, 30, of Charleston, were named in a 21-count federal indictment unsealed today, accused of systematically defrauding the hotel and its guests out of at least $153,000.
According to the indictment, the pair allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in the hotel’s accounting system between September 2017 and June 2019. After guests checked out, Barkley and Lincoln would reopen accounts – even months later – and manipulate revenue postings, creating artificial credit balances. This wasn’t a simple mistake; it was a calculated effort to siphon money.
The alleged method was disturbingly straightforward. Once a credit balance appeared, they’d issue refunds not to the original guest, but to debit cards and bank accounts they controlled, or to associates who would then kickback the funds. To cover their tracks, the indictment claims they fabricated guest complaints and other false entries in the hotel’s database, justifying the fraudulent revenue adjustments. It’s a classic case of internal exploitation, leveraging position and access for personal gain.
Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart confirmed the indictment, emphasizing that the charges are accusations and that both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, the scale of the alleged fraud – a minimum of $153,000 – paints a picture of a deliberate and sustained criminal enterprise. The U.S. Secret Service and the Charleston Police Department jointly investigated the case, highlighting the increasing collaboration between federal and local law enforcement in tackling financial crimes.
If convicted on the wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges, Barkley and Lincoln each face a hefty penalty: up to 20 years in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Allessandra E. Stewart will be prosecuting the case, and a trial date has not yet been set. This case underscores the importance of robust internal controls within businesses, and the ever-present threat of employee fraud.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds. The Days Inn on Meeting Street has not yet issued a statement regarding the allegations. The indictment serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly small-scale fraud can have significant consequences, both for the victims and the perpetrators.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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