Rene Nichole Coleman, a 50-year-old Arkansas woman, is now facing a felony theft charge after allegedly refusing to return nearly $19,400 she received due to a payroll error. This isn’t just a simple mistake; it’s escalated into a Class C felony, according to recent court records. Coleman was arrested on April 6, 2026, at the Craighead County Detention Center.
The whole situation kicked off when the CEO of a local business in Jonesboro filed a theft report. Per the NEA Report, the CEO told police that Coleman, a former employee, had taken funds from the company. It turns out Coleman usually earned $16.50 per hour. However, on May 10, 2025, a glitch in the company’s old payroll system caused a massive error: she was paid $1,650 per hour for her 12-hour shift.
