Roseville Woman Pleads Guilty To Stealing $400,000 From Thunder Valley

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A Roseville woman pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to embezzling up to $400,000 in money and property from Thunder Valley Resort and Casino.

Erika Michele Carlton, 38, was a human resources manager at the Indian casino in Lincoln. The embezzlement occurred between Nov. 12, 2006, and March 9, 2011.

Carlton had access to Thunder Valley credit cards and other sources of funds that she could use to buy items for the casino's employees such as gift cards from local merchants, electronics such as televisions, iPods, PlayStations and DVD players, and other items.

According to court documents, Carlton either kept the items that she purchased for herself or returned the items to the store for cash or merchandise credit for her own use.

Carlton is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr on Nov. 1. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year term of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Placer County Sheriff's Department.