GENTRY, Ark. — A Gentry woman was arrested last week on suspicion of fraudulent use of a credit or debit card after allegedly spending thousands of dollars in a scam she claims she believed was legitimate.
Debra Jo Bolin, who worked as a purchasing manager for Community Physicians Group in Siloam Springs in 2022, reportedly used her employer’s credit card for unauthorized purchases totaling about $12,500. The transactions included $1,500 at Lowe’s, $5,000 at JCPenney, and $6,000 at The Home Depot in Rogers, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Bolin allegedly told police she thought she was “working with the government” after receiving a message on her work computer claiming it had been hacked and contained illegal material. She said she was instructed to purchase gift cards from multiple stores and provide the card numbers to the person on the phone, while being warned not to discuss it with coworkers.
Investigators later confirmed that the work computer showed no signs of being hacked, and the affidavit does not indicate any illegal material was present. Bolin reportedly used some of her personal funds during the scam and realized she was being deceived only when she was “almost out of money.”
Bolin was released from custody on Dec. 20 on a $7,500 bond, and her arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 26. Prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges.
