UPDATED Tuesday, February 14, 2012 --- 11:23 a.m.
From the Attorney General's Office:
MADISON — On February 13, 2012, a preliminary hearing was conducted in the matter of State of Wisconsin v. Deborah Paul. After hearing from a number of witnesses, Judge Andrew Bissonnette found that probable cause existed to believe that Deborah Paul committed a felony.
According to the complaint, Ms. Paul is charged with two felony counts of Theft by Bailee for allegedly converting to her personal use money received by Carol's Tours for trips and for trip interruption insurance. The conversions occurred over a period of time. There is almost $300,000 missing in money paid by the individuals.
An arraignment is set for February 22, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. in Dodge County Circuit Court Branch 3. The defendant is presumed innocent, and the State must prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The State is being represented by Assistant Attorney General Richard J. Dufour. The Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services is providing assistance in this case.
This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Beaver Dam Police Department, and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
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UPDATED Monday, February 6, 2012 --- 10:10 a.m.
From the Attorney General's Office:
MADISON — On February 3, 2012, Lisa Hopper appeared in Dodge County Circuit for a plea and sentencing hearing. Ms. Hopper entered pleas to two felony counts related to embezzlement of more than $97,000 from Carol’s Tours, a travel business that was formerly located in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The business closed in January 2008 and an investigation was begun by the Beaver Dam Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. In the course of the investigation, it was determined that Lisa Hopper had stolen more than $97,000 from the business throughout a period of years.
Ms. Hopper entered no contest pleas to one count of felony theft over $10,000 and one count of fraudulent writings. After considering numerous letters the court received and hearing from a number of individuals, including the former owner of Carol’s Tours, Judge Bissonnette found Ms. Hopper guilty based upon her pleas and sentenced her to a prison term of four and a half years on the count of fraudulent writings with one and a half years to be initial confinement and three years to be extended supervision. He also withheld sentence on the felony theft count and ordered her to serve seven years of probation consecutive to the prison sentence. Conditions of the extended supervision and probation include payment of restitution in the amount of $72,353.01 (Ms. Hopper paid $25,000 towards the restitution at the plea hearing), that she provide a DNA sample, she pay the costs of the action and that she not work as a bookkeeper for any business.
The State was represented in this case by Assistant Attorney General Richard J. Dufour. The Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services also provided assistance.
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UPDATED Friday, November 11, 2011 --- 5:10 p.m.
BEAVER DAM, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin Department of Justice has filed charges against the former owner and an employee of a defunct travel agency.
Carol's Tours of Beaver Dam closed in 2008, leaving many people without trips they already had paid for.
Former owner Deborah Paul is charged with two felony counts of theft. Paul is accused of converting to her personal use money received by Carol's Tours for trips and for trip interruption insurance
Paul's former officer manager, Lisa Hopper, is charged with embezzlement and fraudulent writings. Hopper is accused of taking money from Carol's Tours and paying personal bills while she maintained the books.
Both women are to appear Nov. 21 in Dodge County Circuit Court.
Online court records don't list an attorney for Paul. Hopper's attorney didn't return a message Friday.
Copyright 2011. The Associated Press.
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Posted Friday, November 11, 2011 --- 3:45 p.m.
From the Office of the Wisconsin Attorney General:
MADISON — On November 10, 2011, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed complaints charging Deborah I. Paul and Lisa A. Hopper with various felony counts related to the failure of Carol’s Tours. Carol’s Tours was a business located in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, that coordinated trips for individuals.
According to the Criminal Complaints, the business closed in January 2008, leaving numerous people without the trips they had already paid for. Ms. Paul was the owner of Carol’s Tours and Ms. Hopper was a long-time employee of the business and was in charge of the financial aspects of the business.
According to the complaint, Ms. Paul is charged with two felony counts of Theft by Bailee for allegedly converting to her personal use money received by Carol’s Tours for trips and for trip interruption insurance. The conversions occurred over a period of time.
According to the complaint, Ms. Hopper is charged with Embezzlement and Fraudulent Writings for allegedly taking money from Carol’s Tours and paying personal bills over a lengthy period of time while she maintained the books. The Fraudulent Writings count relates to allegations that Ms. Hopper changed the books of Carol’s Tours to show that checks written for her personal expenses were for legitimate business expenses.
The Summons and Criminal Complaint for each are available at the following links:
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/summons-complaint-paul-deborah-20111111.pdf
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/summons-complaint-hopper-lisa-20111111.pdf
This case was investigated by the DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Beaver Dam Police Department, and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Assistant Attorney General Richard J. Dufour represents the State.
While Ms. Paul and Ms. Hopper have been charged with criminal offenses, they are both presumed innocent at this time, and the State will need to prove them guilty of the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. Initial appearances in both cases will be held in the Dodge County Circuit Court on Monday, November 21, 2011, at 10:30 a.m.
