Lake Ariel woman accused of embezzling $25,000 from Wayne County bagel chain has faced theft charges in Monroe and Lehigh counties since 2021

LAKE ARIEL, WAYNE COUNTY — A second preliminary hearing was postponed this week for the former Vinny’s Original Brooklyn Bagels manager accused of stealing more than $25,000 from the popular Wayne County chain, court records show.

Jennifer M. Villani, 45, of Lake Ariel, was scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Bonnie L. Carney on Dec. 22. Her attorney, Public Defender Debra Domenick, filed a continuance request on Dec. 15. No new hearing date has been set.

It’s the second delay in the case. Villani herself requested the first continuance on Nov. 26, the same day the Pocono Review first reported on her prior theft conviction in Lehigh County.

A deeper review of statewide court records now reveals a more extensive history: Villani has faced theft charges in three Pennsylvania counties since 2021, racking up four theft-related convictions in Monroe County and Lehigh County before the Wayne County charges were filed.

Four Prior Theft Convictions

Court records paint a picture of repeated offenses across northeastern and eastern Pennsylvania:

Monroe County — 2021:

Villani pled guilty to three separate retail theft cases on the same day, Nov. 15, 2021, before Judge Stephen M. Higgins. The charges stemmed from incidents at stores in Middle Smithfield Township and Smithfield Township between January and February 2021.

• CP-45-CR-0000542-2021: Retail theft (M1) — Guilty plea, sentenced to one year probation
• CP-45-CR-0001686-2021: Retail theft (M1) — Guilty plea
• CP-45-CR-0001708-2021: Retail theft (F3) — Guilty plea

Pennsylvania State Police troopers from the Stroudsburg barracks handled all three investigations. Villani was represented by private attorney Eric Alexander Harakal of the Banks Law Group.

Lehigh County — 2023:

Villani was arrested on Nov. 13, 2023, by Whitehall Township Police. She was initially charged with felony retail theft but pled guilty to reduced charges: misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking (M3) and summary retail theft.

She spent one day in Lehigh County Jail after being unable to post $2,500 bail. She later posted $250 cash (10 percent) and was released. The case transferred to Court of Common Pleas in January 2024, where records show she still owes $839.75 in fines and costs.

Unpaid Court Debt

Villani’s court financial records show unpaid obligations across multiple jurisdictions:

• $512.54 owed in Monroe County (CP-45-CR-0001686-2021)
• $766.04 owed in Monroe County (CP-45-CR-0001708-2021)
• $839.75 owed in Lehigh County (CP-39-CR-0000326-2024)
• $2,118.33 total outstanding

Monroe County filed a motion for contempt in April 2024 over the unpaid debts. Judge Jonathan Mark dismissed the petition on May 16, 2024, after a hearing.

Wayne County Traffic Violations

Before the theft charges, Villani had run-ins with Pennsylvania State Police in Wayne County. Troopers from the Honesdale barracks cited her on Dec. 21, 2023, in Salem Township for four traffic violations:

• Disregarding a traffic lane
• Failure to notify change of address
• Driving without a license
• Driving with suspended registration

She initially pled not guilty to all four charges in January 2024 but changed her plea to guilty on Sept. 17, 2024. Judge Carney determined Villani was unable to pay and placed her on a monthly payment plan.

Records show she has since paid off the traffic fines, making 11 payments totaling $1,188.50 between November 2024 and October 2025.

The Vinny’s Bagels Case

The current charges stem from an investigation that began Sept. 22, 2025, when owner Vincent Nicoletti reported the theft to Pennsylvania State Police after reviewing surveillance footage at the Hawley location.

Villani served as district manager overseeing all three Vinny’s locations in Hawley, Honesdale, and Lake Ariel. Trooper Kelly L. Todd of the Honesdale barracks filed the criminal complaint.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, point-of-sale records showed Villani opened the register without logging a sale more than 3,400 times between January and September 2025. Deleted transactions totaled $25,236.48.

Surveillance footage allegedly captured Villani skimming cash from registers, hiding money beneath the change drawer, and transferring register funds to her tip jar before pocketing the money.

Nicoletti told police he believes the actual loss could reach $50,000 as he continues reviewing footage from all three stores.

Villani is charged with theft by unlawful taking, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in state prison and a $15,000 fine.

She remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.

Case Reference

• Docket: MJ-22302-CR-0000162-2025
• Defendant: Jennifer M. Villani, 45, of Lake Ariel
• Charge: Theft by Unlawful Taking – Movable Property (F3)
• Offense Date: Jan. 1, 2025
• Arresting Agency: Pennsylvania State Police, Honesdale
• Arresting Officer: Trooper Kelly L. Todd
• File Date: Oct. 27, 2025
• Bail: $25,000 unsecured (posted)
• Status: Awaiting preliminary hearing
• Defense Attorney: Debra Domenick, Esq., Wayne County Public Defender’s Office
• Prosecuting: Wayne County District Attorney’s Office

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.