District manager accused of stealing $25K from Hawley, Honesdale, and Lake Ariel locations in Wayne County pled guilty to retail theft in 2023

LAKE ARIEL — The woman accused of embezzling more than $25,000 from Vinny’s Original Brooklyn Bagels had a prior theft conviction when she was hired to manage the popular Wayne County chain, court records show.

Jennifer M. Villani, 45, of Lake Ariel, served as district manager overseeing all three Vinny’s locations — Hawley, Honesdale, and Lake Ariel — when owner Vincent Nicoletti caught her on surveillance video pocketing cash from the register in September.

A preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 26 was continued after a last-minute defense request. No new court date has been set. Villani remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.

What Nicoletti may not have known when he hired Villani: She pled guilty to misdemeanor theft and retail theft in Lehigh County in late 2023, according to statewide court records reviewed by the Pocono Review. The Wayne County charges came less than two years later.

Public Defender Debra Domenick is now representing Villani. The Wayne County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.

3,400 Deleted Transactions

Pennsylvania State Police say Villani’s scheme was straightforward. She would ring up customers at the register, collect their cash, delete the transaction, and pocket the money.

Nicoletti reported the theft to troopers on Sept. 22 after reviewing surveillance footage at the Hawley shop. He told Trooper Kelly L. Todd of the Honesdale barracks that he believed Villani had stolen from all three Vinny’s locations.

Point-of-sale records backed him up:

• 3,400 times Villani opened the register without logging a sale between Jan. 9 and Sept. 23
• $25,236.48 in deleted transactions during that period
• $50,000 estimated total loss as Nicoletti continues reviewing footage
• 9 months the alleged scheme ran before Villani was caught

Surveillance Footage

The criminal complaint details what cameras captured at the Honesdale location:

• Aug. 9: Villani pulled cash from beneath the register’s change drawer, added it to her tip money, and slipped it into her pocket.
• Aug. 20: While bagging cash for a bank deposit, Villani skimmed a portion into her tips and pocketed it.
• Aug. 31: Villani moved register money to the tip jar, then transferred it to her purse hanging behind the counter.

Nicoletti told police he was still combing through months of footage from all three stores and believes the actual theft could hit $50,000.

Employees Saw It

Coworkers told investigators they had noticed red flags, according to the complaint:

• Villani left the register drawer open
• She skipped cashing out the drawer at closing
• She logged in using other employees’ credentials

Workers also told police Villani had asked them for pills.

Criminal History

Statewide court records show Villani’s legal troubles didn’t start at Vinny’s.

Lehigh County — 2023:

• Arrested Nov. 13, 2023
• Charged with felony retail theft (later reduced)
• Pled guilty to misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking and summary retail theft
• Case moved to Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 21, 2023

Wayne County — 2023-2024:

Villani pled guilty to four traffic offenses:

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

What She Faces

Villani is charged with theft by unlawful taking under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3921(a), a third-degree felony.

Potential penalties upon conviction:

• Up to 7 years in state prison
• Fine up to $15,000

The Wayne County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting. A new preliminary hearing date has not been scheduled.

Case Reference

• Docket: MJ-22302-CR-0000162-2025
• Defendant: Jennifer M. Villani, DOB 05/24/1980
• Charge: Theft by Unlawful Taking – Movable Property (F3)
• 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.
• Prosecuting: Wayne County District Attorney’s Office

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