Beaver Dam Woman Sentenced on Two Felony Counts Related to the Failure of Carol's Tours

MADISON — On February 3, 2012, Lisa Hopper appeared in Dodge County Circuit for a plea and sentencing hearing. Ms. Hopper entered pleas to two felony counts related to embezzlement of more than $97,000 from Carol's Tours, a travel business that was formerly located in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The business closed in January 2008 and an investigation was begun by the Beaver Dam Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. In the course of the investigation, it was determined that Lisa Hopper had stolen more than $97,000 from the business throughout a period of years.

Ms. Hopper entered no contest pleas to one count of felony theft over $10,000 and one count of fraudulent writings. After considering numerous letters the court received and hearing from a number of individuals, including the former owner of Carol's Tours, Judge Bissonnette found Ms. Hopper guilty based upon her pleas and sentenced her to a prison term of four and a half years on the count of fraudulent writings with one and a half years to be initial confinement and three years to be extended supervision. He also withheld sentence on the felony theft count and ordered her to serve seven years of probation consecutive to the prison sentence. Conditions of the extended supervision and probation include payment of restitution in the amount of $72,353.01 (Ms. Hopper paid $25,000 towards the restitution at the plea hearing), that she provide a DNA sample, she pay the costs of the action and that she not work as a bookkeeper for any business.

The State was represented in this case by Assistant Attorney General Richard J. Dufour. The Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services also provided assistance.