Bartender at a Popular Hudson Valley Bar Arrested for ‘Tip’ Fraud

An employee at a Dutchess County bar and restaurant has been arrested after they allegedly increased the tip amounts on customer's bills.

According to the New York State Police (NYSP), investigators at the Poughkeepsie, NY barracks were recently notified by the owner of the Publick House Restaurant and Bar in Pleasant Valley, NY that one of its employees had allegedly committed fraud and theft against unsuspecting customers at the popular bar.

Pleasant Valley, New York Bar Employee Allegedly Stole Tips

Police said soon after they were notified of the alleged fraud by one of the owners of the Publick House Restaurant and Bar located at 5, Maggiacomo Ln, Pleasant Valley, NY they began to conduct an investigation which did reveal some sort of fraud was committed.

On Friday September 20th, 2024 the investigation determined that a 33-year-old server and bartender at the bar had fraudulently increased the tip amounts entered by her customers who utilized credit cards to pay their bills in order to increase the amount of money she would be paid. 33-year-old Melissa Dinsmore, of Wappinger, New York was arrested on Friday, Sept. 20th, and charged with two felonies including, scheme to defraud in the 1st degree and falsify business records in the 1st degree, both class E felonies according to an NYSP press release.

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Dinsmore was issued an appearance ticket that is returnable to the town of Pleasant Valley Court and released. She is expected to be back in court to answer the charges on October 22, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. As a reminder, any person suspected of a crime is innocent until proven guilty in court.

This is an active investigation as more information becomes available we will update this article.

Publick House Restaurant and Bar has been a staple in Pleasant Valley since 2008.