Wyoming Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Employer to Fund Lavish Lifestyle
A Jackson Hole mother has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling over $1.4 million from her employer to finance luxury vacations and a multi-million dollar home.
Laura Means, 46, a mother of two from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will serve 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and tax charges. The court also ordered her to pay restitution.
Makes was employed by Town Square Inns, a local company, and was allowed to work remotely. Beginning in 2019 and continuing until early 2025, she systematically embezzled funds from the company. During this period, Means used the stolen money to purchase a $2.5 million home in Oahu, Hawaii, and to finance lavish international vacations, including trips to Europe.
The FBI noted that Means had a close, personal relationship with the family who owned Town Square Inns, who considered her to be like family. This trust was exploited as she concealed her embezzlement scheme. Over the course of the fraud, Means stole approximately $1.4 million.
Mixed media later uncovered images of Means traveling through Europe, including a photo of her in Amsterdam, taken during the same summer she was embezzling from her employer. She also shared images on social media, including one with her daughter near her Oahu residence.
Means was formally sentenced late last month. In addition to the prison term, she was ordered to pay restitution for the full amount embezzled. Her conviction includes a 46-month sentence for wire fraud and a concurrent 36-month sentence for a tax charge.