WATFORD CITY, ND — A former general manager of a Watford City bar is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $33,000 from her employer through payroll fraud and unauthorized transfers.
Tiffany Leeann Yearty, 28, was arrested and charged with theft of property valued between $10,000 and $50,000, a Class B felony, following an investigation by the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court documents, the bar’s owner reported suspicions of theft on February 27, just days after Yearty was terminated on February 23. One incident involved Yearty taking $821 in gaming funds, which she later repaid. Surveillance footage from February 12 reportedly shows Yearty placing cash into her jacket pocket while managing a register.
Yearty, who managed payroll and employee time clocks—including her own—was suspected of manipulating the system to claim unworked hours, overtime, and fake tips. Her 2024 W-2 reported earnings of $72,369.78, which the owner said exceeded her own salary.
An investigation led by Deputy Brandon Kindred revealed Yearty had administrative access to bypass payroll system safeguards. Between April 18, 2024, and February 20, 2025, she allegedly paid herself $21,888.76 in unauthorized compensation. Her mother, employed at the bar for just six days, was reportedly paid $12,273.43, including overtime.
During a July 7 interview, Yearty admitted to falsifying her hours and making unauthorized payroll transfers to her and her mother’s bank accounts, later moving funds back to her own account.
Combined, the total amount stolen is $33,562.19. Yearty was issued a $30,000 bond on July 9, and a preliminary hearing is set for September 11.
