By MATT THACKER
Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com
> SOUTHERN INDIANA —
A Memphis woman has been charged with class D felony theft in an alleged scam to defraud Sportsdrome Speedway in Clarksville out of more than $20,000 in beer sales.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court No. 3, Deborah Traver, 58, worked at the Speedway and would bring in to work beer cups identical to the ones provided by the track. She then allegedly sold beer belonging to the Speedway in her cups and took the money from the sales at the end of the night.
Sportsdrome promoter Mike Gibson reportedly told police he became suspicious at the beginning of the 2010 racing season that the amount of beer he purchased and sales figures did not match. He said he had always counted the cups sold at the end of each racing session and compared it to money collected.
After the first few races of the year, Gibson calculated the amount of money collected and compared it with how many kegs he had purchased. He said he was missing more than $6,500 each of the last three years with a total loss of $20,145.
Gibson said he worked the beer booth with Traver on July 24 and discovered she had a black duffle bag filled with beer cups. Traver was fired, and the alleged theft was reported to the Indiana State Police.
Video showed Traver placing beer cups on the top of the beer machine, apparently for sale, the ISP report states.
In an interview with police, Traver denied selling any beer from the cups she brought to the track.
Traver worked at the speedway for 11 years. She told police she wanted to quit but her family would not allow her to, so she left the duffle bag open so her boss would see it and fire her. At the time, Traver told police the July incident was the first time she ever brought cups to the track but she later admitted it was not.
Detectives asked why video showed her removing money from the cash register at night, and she said it was only tip money.
Gibson told police in late August that the Speedway’s profits increased after Traver’s firing.
Traver faces six months to three years in prison if convicted and up to a $10,000 fine. She is scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing on Sept. 15.
A voicemail left for Traver was not returned.
