The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged Austin Tyler Wren (DOB 1998) with stealing.
Wren's bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety.
From the probable cause statement:
I made contact with Victim One, owner of Rebath. Victim One stated Austin Wren was responsible for managing company finances and had authorized access to company bank accounts, financial records, book keeping records, and other accounting documents for the business.Victim One stated that on September 8, 2026, Austin Wren contacted him by telephone and admitted he had been stealing money from company accounts. Victim One stated Wren admitted to taking approximately $500, 000 from the company.
Victim One further stated Wren advised he had been searching for ways to avoid going to jail and researching ways to repay the money.
Victim One stated he immediately contacted Witness One and requested she conduct a review of the company's financial records and bank accounts due to Wren's admission.
Witness One stated that while reviewing available financial records she observed numerous expenditures and transactions that appeared unrelated to legitimate business purposes.
Witness One stated these transactions included expenditures to Whatnot, casino-related transactions, and other personal expenditures. Witness One advised the suspicious transactions she identified exceeded approximately $250, 000.
Victim One stated that when he reviewed company account balances in January of 2026, the company maintained between approximately $750,000 and $800,000 in available funds. Victim One stated that after Wren's admission and review of the accounts, the account balance was found to be less than $200, 000.
Victim One stated the company had also received approximately $250,000 from FEMA assistance, insurance proceeds, and COVID-19 related relief funds. Victim One stated those funds were subsequently utilized to cover shortages and missing funds within company accounts.
Victim One stated that during the week prior to Wren's confession, he directed Witness One to assist Wren with the company's bookkeeping and accounting records because required business documents were not being completed.
Victim One stated that when he reviewed company account balances in January of 2026, the company maintained between approximately $750,000 and $800,000 in available funds. Victim One stated that after Wren's admission and review of the accounts, the account balance was found to be less than $200, 000.
Victim One stated the company had also received approximately $250,000 from FEMA assistance, insurance proceeds, and COVID-19 related relief funds. Victim One stated those funds were subsequently utilized to cover shortages and missing funds within company accounts.
Victim One stated that during the week prior to Wren's confession, he directed Witness One to assist Wren with the company's bookkeeping and accounting records because required business documents were not being completed.
Victim One stated Wren appeared stressed, anxious, and reluctant to provide requested financial records. Witness One stated that while attempting to gain access to company financial records, Wren refused to provide full access and concealed bookkeeping records.
Witness One stated she repeatedly requested access to the records and advised Wren she needed the documents no later than September 7, 2026.
Witness One stated that on September 7, 2026, Wren was largely unavailable and continued refusing to provide complete access to the requested records. The following day, September 8, 2026, Wren contacted Victim One and confessed to stealing money from company accounts.
Victim One advised that the expenditures identified by Witness One were not authorized by him and were not legitimate business expenses, Victim One stated Wren was entrusted with managing the company finances and had access necessary to conduct the transactions.
Witness One stated she repeatedly requested access to the records and advised Wren she needed the documents no later than September 7, 2026.
Witness One stated that on September 7, 2026, Wren was largely unavailable and continued refusing to provide complete access to the requested records. The following day, September 8, 2026, Wren contacted Victim One and confessed to stealing money from company accounts.
Victim One advised that the expenditures identified by Witness One were not authorized by him and were not legitimate business expenses, Victim One stated Wren was entrusted with managing the company finances and had access necessary to conduct the transactions.
Law enforcement conducted a preliminary review of available bank statements and financial records provided by Victim One. During that review, numerous transactions were observed occurring over an extended period of time. The transactions included expenditures consistent with those identified by Witness One, including casino-related transactions, Whatnot purchases, and other expenditures that appeared unrelated to company business operations.
I made contact with Austin Wren regarding the allegations. Wren was advised of his Miranda rights and invoked his right to remain silent, Wren did not provide a statement to law enforcement.
Victim One stated that upon looking through bank statements he discovered Mr. Wren had created a business using the money from the company. Mr. Wren also invested in crypto currency.
The case was investigated by the Neosho Police Department.
4 comments:
With today's local headlines of people stealing money from Businesses and Non-Profit organizations - Austin Tyler Wren, and others should face the consequences of their crimes - not only by Reimbursement but also serving Prison Time. Businesses and Non-Profits, have to STOP allowing only 1-Person to control the Accounting, Bank Accounts, Credit Card Accounts and do their due diligence on Reviewing and Auditing everything - too many people today are spouting their financial issues, and addictions, to drugs, gambling, etc., as excuses in Stealing from their Employers - this requires Judges and Prosecutors to take a HARD STANCE and STOP THE SLAPS ON THE WRISTS AND PROBATIONS FOR THESE CRIMINALS.
When will businesses utilized standard operating procedures and Audits to run their businesses, never letting just 1-Person have 100% access and control of their Financial Information and Records and not Requiring them to have a Bond in case of Fiduciary Irresponsibility - Balancing and Producing Monthly Statements P&L's, Bank and Credit Card Statements - and only Reimbursing someone that provides Receipts - and only 2-Party Checks for Paying Bills.
Bonding an employee or your company typically costs 0.5% to 3% of the total bond amount annually for standard commercial or contract bonds, or $100 to $350 per year for basic fidelity/employee dishonesty packages.
Employee / Business Service Bonds (Fidelity)
Covers theft or dishonesty by employees against clients.
$10,000 coverage: ~$125 per year.
$25,000 coverage: ~$175 per year.
$50,000 coverage: ~$250 per year.
$100,000 Bond: ~$359–$1,000 per year.
$1,000,000 Bond: ~$1,000+ per year for standard risk profiles
Buckle up buttercup, you are about to go to prison!
What business did the alleged crook start with the allegedly stolen funds he allegedly stole by cooking the books? An accounting service?
A accounting service with his name on it?
WHAT COULD GO WRONG WITH THAT IDEA? 🤡
If you are a Business Owner - Big, Small, Whatever - you cannot leave the most important part of your business - Accounting, Finance, Taxes - just up to others - you have to be on-top of everything - Not be an Expert, but, you have got to learn to Read Financial Balance and P&L Balances Sheets - Be aware of Money going in and Money going out - Auding Everything - Purchasing, Bank Statements, Credit Card Statements, Reimbursements - that's why not everyone - Owns a Business - You have to have EYES Everywhere - If you want to be a Success and understand that Money is the Result of your Hard Work - your Business - whether it is Services, Manufacturing, Distribution, Etc., - It is the Business Owner's Responsibility - Don't allow anyone to take your Control away - and understand Human Nature - that sometimes the Have-Nots will always try to take from the Haves, because they feel they are owed it even though they did not earn it, build it, or work for it! Criminals have no consideration of what it took for you to Achieve anything - their mindset is you don't deserve it and they do!
So, just Lock these Criminals up in Prison and No Swats on the Wrist, No Probation, Don't Feel Sorrow for Them - They Stole from your Achievements your Future - Just give them Restitution and Prison Time - put Liens against anything they own and Repo it and Sell it to get part of your Restitution back!
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