IOWA CITY, Iowa — A 51-year-old Solon woman is facing serious charges after being accused of embezzling over $50,000 from Budget Car Rental in Iowa City. Authorities say Barbara Ray, a former manager, manipulated hundreds of rental records and rerouted customer payments into her personal accounts.
Ray was arrested Monday and now faces multiple felony charges including theft, fraud, money laundering, and falsifying financial transactions.
According to investigators, between January 2021 and June 2024, Ray altered or deleted 466 rental agreements to conceal unauthorized rentals. Police allege she accepted payments directly from customers and redirected them to her own accounts via platforms like Cash App and Chime.
Records show Ray personally received $50,141.08 from these activities between January 2023 and June 2024. Investigators estimate the scheme cost Budget a total of $187,184.16 in losses.
Ray is currently being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $40,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
