Four arrested in HSB Resort theft scheme

The Horseshoe Bay Police Department has arrested four former Horseshoe Bay Resort employees connected to a theft ring that targeted the Resort Food and Beverage Department.

Police were contacted by resort executives after an internal audit revealed funds began missing from sales receipts in the Yacht Club Restaurant February of 2017. The resulting audit estimated that more than $22,000 was stolen from February -September of 2017.

The resulting criminal investigation revealed that the four people, all employed as servers in the Yacht Club Restaurant, participated in a scheme in which the food and beverage credit card transactions entered they entered were internally manipulated, moving a percentage of the actual food and drink bill into employee tips. Customers were unaffected in the scheme. Horseshoe Bay Resort was the actual victim.

Joseph Evan Higley, Alexander William Aguilar, Journey Lorene Bruns, and Amanda Marie Lewis all were arrested and booked in the Llano County Jail on charges of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a third degree felony.

Aguilar, age 40, surrendered himself to Horseshoe Bay Police on Oct. 16.

Bruns, age 26, was arrested by police at a residence in Horseshoe Bay, also on Oct. 16, after she was found hiding inside the residence. An occupant of the residence, John Horal, age 30, was arrested and charged with Hindering Apprehension, also a third degree felony. Both Bruns and Horal were transported to the Llano County Jail for booking.

Higley, age 42, surrendered himself to the Llano County Sheriff Department on Oct. 18.