CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, Ark. — A Trumann woman convicted of stealing nearly $1 million from her former employer has been sentenced to probation and ordered to repay a significant portion of the stolen funds.
Jennifer Renee Latham pleaded guilty to one count of theft of property greater than $25,000, a Class B felony, and was sentenced on Oct. 20 by Second Judicial Circuit Judge Randy Philhours. The judge ordered Latham to serve 156 months, or 13 years, of probation and pay $529,147.44 in restitution. She is also responsible for all associated court costs, fees, and fines, according to the sentencing order.
Court records show that deputies with the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office arrested Latham in May 2025 after an investigation into claims made by the owner of Valley View Agri-Systems. The owner reported that Latham, a former employee, had stolen funds and misused company resources during her time with the business.
According to an affidavit, the theft was initially discovered in early 2025. The company set up a promissory note requiring Latham to repay $413,451.86, and documentation indicated that she had been making weekly payments of $1,000 toward that amount. However, the total money stolen, including unauthorized charges to company credit cards, exceeded those repayments significantly.
Investigators uncovered evidence that Latham charged approximately $642,194.38 to company credit cards for personal use. The affidavit also revealed that she used these funds to purchase products to stock her separate business, My Affordable Abode. Authorities stated that items bought with company cards were sold through the business, and further evidence showed Latham had used the same credit cards to pay utilities for My Affordable Abode before her termination from Valley View Agri-Systems.
Latham’s sentence and restitution order aim to hold her accountable for the financial harm caused to her former employer. Valley View Agri-Systems specializes in agricultural systems and equipment.
Judge Philhours’ order requires the restitution to be paid directly to the victim. It remains unclear whether additional civil actions will follow.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of workplace theft and its significant impact on businesses, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises.