Hotel Manager Charged With Stealing From Tewksbury Hotel

A Lawrence woman was arraigned Friday on larceny charges for allegedly stealing more than $300,000 from two hotels where she worked as a manager, including one in Tewksbury, according to a release from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Vilma Ajanel, 41, of Lawrence, was arraigned today in Middlesex Superior Court on the following charges:

• Charges of larceny over $250 (eight counts)
• Being a common and notorious thief

Authorities allege that in 2010 when Anjanel was working as the manager of the Residence Inn at 1775 Andover Street in Tewksbury, she was responsible for and had access to hotel finances including payroll and petty cash, as well as the authority to make hiring decisions.

According to the release, Anjanel used her responsibilities as manager to add three employees to the hotel’s payroll. 

These employees were never on the schedule, and never actually worked at the hotel, according to the release.

The fake employees would appear on the payroll and receive a paycheck.  Anjanel would then ask another person to cash the checks and that person would give all of the money to the defendant, according to the release.

In 2012, Anjanel was transferred to the Courtyard Marriott in Billerica, continuing as the general manager of that location, and transferring the three fake employees to the new payroll, according to the release.

Another hotel employee noticed the new names on the payroll and removed them, only to have them added back on by Anjanel. 

Authorities also allege that Anjanel used her access to the hotels petty cash for personal gain including groceries and gift cards, according to the release.

Anjanel would also wire the money to Guatemala, using her own name and also asking others whom she knew to wire the money on her behalf, according to the release.

Over the two year period, Anjanel stole more than $300,000 from the two hotels, according to the release.

The hotel terminated the Anjanel’s employment in September 2012.

The case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office PACT Unit, Billerica Police and Tewksbury Police.