WARSAW, Ind. — Three residents of Kosciusko County are facing felony charges after being implicated in a theft scheme at a local hotel, authorities say.
Chiquita Monique Lane, 49, of Silver Lake, is charged with three counts of theft over $50,000, all level 5 felonies. Her son, Eleseo Marqal Lane, 25, and daughter-in-law, Kimberly Laura-Lynn Northern, 25, both of Warsaw, also face theft charges related to the case.
The investigation began on March 28, 2024, when a Warsaw Police officer responded to a theft report filed by a co-owner of the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott.
According to court documents, Chiquita Lane, who previously served as the hotel’s general manager, caused nearly $297,000 in financial losses. She allegedly placed her son, Eleseo, and daughter-in-law, Northern, on the hotel’s payroll even though neither was employed there.
In addition, Chiquita allegedly allowed Eleseo and Northern to live in the hotel without paying for their rooms, leading to approximately $120,000 in lost revenue. Records from Paycor, the payroll service used by the hotel, showed Eleseo received $63,775.64 in wages from May 2022 to January 2024, despite testimonies from five current and former employees stating he never worked at the property. Payroll entries for Eleseo’s hours were reportedly entered manually by Chiquita.
Further inquiry revealed Eleseo and Northern stayed in two guestrooms without payment from January 16, 2022, through April 30, 2023, violating hotel policies that prohibit family members from working under supervision of relatives and residing on the premises without written approval from ownership.
A former regional manager confirmed no family members were authorized to live at the hotel or be employed there without proper approval.
Chiquita Lane was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on September 15, 2025. Eleseo Lane and Kimberly Northern have already been arrested and released on bond. They are scheduled for initial hearings on September 25, 2025, in Kosciusko Superior Court Three.
