Danika Nicole Young, 38, recently was arraigned in South Haven, Michigan District Court on a felony charge of embezzlement over $100,000, which carries a penalty of 20 years in prison.
Young is accused of taking $700,000 from Four Winds Hartford Casino on the afternoon of July 30. She was later arrested in Gary, Indiana but the money still is missing. Young, who is being held in the Van Buren County jail, told the judge, “I’m very sorry for what happened. This is my first charge, sir.”
Investigators said Young explained she received a phone call from a number she didn’t recognize telling her to bring the money to Gary. At an earlier hearing, an officer said, “She’s the supervisor of the cash cage so she has millions of dollars that she is responsible for. She counted out $700,000 and put it in a bag and walked out of the casino.” Police said Young met an unidentified individual in Gary and gave them the money.
At the arraignment, Young’s public defender sought a personal recognizance bond at arraignment, noting she has worked at Four Winds for 16 years and has a child.
According to WFTV, Judge Arthur Clarke said, “My concern is a very simple concern. That $700,000 has not been located. My concern is if I release you and $700,000 would show up and you would be off to wherever and I would not see you again. So, I’m setting bond in the amount of $1 million cash or surety. Good luck, ma’am.”
Young’s mother described her as a “wonderful mother and daughter.” She said, “Danika’s awesome. I can say that. She’s a straight-laced girl. She would not leave her son. She would not throw away 16 years working at the casino. Something happened. Something is not right. It’s not right.”
