A Bloomington spa maker’s longtime finance employee is accused of turning company checks into a $767,500 gambling bankroll, allegedly signing the owner’s name and routing more than 100 payments to herself over nearly two years. The alleged scheme was uncovered after an audit, with investigators later finding freshly signed checks and casino-related records in her vehicle.
Keo Nang Xiong, 33, of Maplewood, was charged Monday with two counts of theft by swindle after investigators alleged she wrote 113 checks from Hot Spring Spas’ account between August 2024 and July 2026. The Minnesota Star Tribune reports Xiong had worked for the Bloomington production operation for about 10 years and served as assistant comptroller, a position that gave her access to company accounts but not permission to write checks to herself.
An Audit Allegedly Exposed A 113-Check Trail
The alleged thefts came to light in June during an audit of the production facility’s checking account. The criminal complaint says the review found numerous checks payable directly to Xiong, with the alleged check-writing scheme stretching from August 2024 through this month.
Investigators allege Xiong forged the company owner’s signature and deposited the checks into her personal account. The total listed in the charges is $767,500, making the case one of the more substantial alleged employee theft cases to land in Hennepin County this year.
Investigators Say The Money Reached Casino ATMs
Once the money allegedly reached her account, Xiong made withdrawals at bank ATMs and at Treasure Island Resort and Casino near Red Wing, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. After her arrest last week, police reportedly found three newly signed checks in her vehicle: one for $5,000 and two for $10,000…