Ashley Ryan

Ashley Ryan, 28, Barton, has been arrested and charged in district court in Rugby with theft of property, forgery or counterfeiting, both Class A felonies, and unauthorized use of personal identifying information, a Class B felony.

According to the affidavit filed with the court, agents of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation received a report from a Rugby business owner that his bookkeeper, Ashley Ryan, had been stealing from his business. The owner’s statement said that he had discovered Ryan had allegedly written and cashed more than $10,000 worth of checks to herself. The owner told investigators that Ryan had utilized a signature stamp to approve the checks to herself and allegedly entered false notations into bookkeeping documents categorizing the disbursed cash as refunds or reimbursements for expenses. Based on the owner’s review of all transactions and bank records it was estimated the total amounts to be approximately $121,581.48

Ryan was interviewed by BCI on April 2 after she returned from a trip to Florida. After being Mirandized, Ryan allegedly admitted to stealing the money, and the methods by which she did so. In the interview she said she only had $3,000 of the $121,581.48 remaining after using the funds partially to fund her Florida vacation amongst other luxuries. According to the affidavit, Ryan told investigators she began stealing the money in July 2022, to cover expenses like medical bills. Ryan allegedly said after that it became easy and that she could not stop, as she enjoyed and wanted the quality of life and financial stability it afforded her.

Appearing before district court Judge Michael Hurly, Ryan was granted a pretrial release agreement requiring a cash bond in the amount of $120,000. Ryan will be required to remain inside the state of North Dakota and must not violate any laws. She is also required to have no contact with the business or business owner.

The dates of Ryan’s next hearings have not been determined.