Former shop manager at a Washington state cannabis shop, Ashley Avila, pled guilty to first degree theft for stealing $770,000 from the business.

Avila hired as shop manager at The Pacific Outpost by the owner of shop when it opened in March 2024. The owner had worked with Aliva previously for eight years and trusted her.

As shop manager, Avila was responsible for paying taxes, handling cash deposits, paying expenses, and otherwise running the business. Avila began stealing cash nearly immediately after starting work. In the first month, she stole nearly $4,500 out of the company's accounts and $11,500 from the cash deposits.

Avila steadily stole up to $64,000 from the deposits and $40,000 from the company's accounts each month until April 2025 when her embezzlement increased. That month alone she stole $110,000 in cash, $8,000 via the company's accounts, and $4,700 through fraudulent spending for a total of $122,700.

In May 2025, the company's ownership discovered that their tax bill had not been paid. Avila claimed it was a misunderstanding and did not disclose that the business had 21 days to pay or their cannabis license would be suspended.

The embezzlement was discovered after the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board met with the owner to discuss the outstanding taxes and payment deadline. Avila quit on the same day for "various employment issues".

The business owners ultimately struggled with the missed taxes and additional work while they spent months rebuilding their business which had only been open for one year. Ownership claimed they worried about whether they could continue paying their employees, how to pay their tax debts, and how to keep their business running after the shop manager position was left vacant.

A civil case against Avila for her embezzlement scheme resulted in a judge ordering her to pay $1.6 million in damages.

Source: https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/crime/article317413629.html

Commentary

Preventing cash theft requires consistent oversight with the caveat that no employee should control cash collection, deposits, financial records, and bank reconciliations without independent review. Separating these duties reduces opportunities to steal funds and conceal discrepancies.

Warning signs of possible cash drain that warrants an investigation include:

• Unexplained differences between recorded sales, cash counts, and bank deposits.
• Delayed deposits or missing deposit documentation.
• Recurring shortages or unsupported adjustments.
• Unusual refunds, voids, or transaction reversals.

Organizations should document daily cash counts, secure cash, restrict access, and independently verify that receipts reach the bank promptly and in full.

Someone outside the cash-handling process should review bank reconciliations and supporting records. When limited staffing prevents full separation of duties, owners should perform that review themselves rather than rely solely on employee-prepared summaries.

The final takeaway is that preventing cash theft requires separating financial responsibilities, independently reconciling cash receipts and deposits, and promptly investigating any discrepancies.