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A woman has been arrested after allegedly refusing to return money her employer mistakenly paid her at a rate of $1,650 per hour in Arkansas, United States.
Rene Nichole Coleman, 50, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, was arrested on Monday after a judge found probable cause to charge her with theft of more than $5,000 but less than $25,000, a felony offense.
According to an affidavit cited in reports, the CEO of a Jonesboro-area business said that on August 12, 2025, a payroll system error resulted in Coleman—identified as a former employee—being significantly overpaid. Instead of her usual wage of $16.50 per hour, she was reportedly paid $1,650 per hour for a 12-hour shift.
The overpayment totaled $19,388, the affidavit alleges.
After the error was discovered, the employer reportedly contacted Coleman and requested that the funds be returned. However, the CEO later went to police after Coleman allegedly refused to repay the money.
The CEO also provided law enforcement with financial records and email correspondence to support the claim.
Investigators reportedly contacted Coleman by phone, and she agreed to meet with authorities but did not show up, according to the affidavit.
Coleman was later arrested on Monday and taken to the Craighead County Detention Center on a bench warrant issued on August 18, 2025, according to reports.
She was granted a $15,000 cash or surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 18.
