Industry News
A vault supervisor at Vermont’s Jay Peak Resort has been accused of stealing over $70,000 from the resort’s safe, according to CBS News.
On Wednesday, July 22, police arrested 41-year-old Lisa Gaylor. Authorities are charging the Barton, Vermont resident with embezzlement, saying she took increments of cash ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 between the fall of 2025 and the spring of 2026. The total amount taken was estimated to be $70,790.
Police began investigations back in April after a series of reported thefts from the resort’s secure vault room. After being taken into custody, Gaylor was released with a citation and is due back in court on August 25.
According to the CBS News article, police did not say how long Gaylor had worked at Jay Peak. A resort spokesperson said Gaylor is no longer employed at the resort and referred all other questions to Vermont State Police.
Under Vermont law, a conviction can carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
A 2016 Scandal
This year’s embezzlement scandal comes just 10 years after another scandal involving the previous owners of Jay Peak. In 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed civil fraud charges after owners Ariel Quiros and Bill Stenger misused over $200 million in investor funds intended for development projects in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
Instead of using investor funds for their projects, the partners used the federal EB-5 program, which helps foreign investors get U.S. residence in exchange for investments that lead to the creation or preservation of at least 10 jobs. According to federal prosecutors, the scheme defrauded immigrants who were seeking green cards.
Quiros and Stenger both pled guilty to the charges, with Quiros identified as the leader of the scheme. He was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay over $8 million in restitution. Stenger was sentenced to 18 months and was forced to pay $250,000 in restitution for submitting false documents to the state.
- Related: Former Jay Peak Resort, VT Owner Indicted On Federal Charges in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Case
Ski Resorts and Revenue
Like many ski resorts, Jay Peak receives millions of dollars in revenue each year from passes, lift tickets, lodging, stores, restaurants, ski schools, and other areas. Cash is typically counted, verified, and then stored in vaults before being deposited. While some ski resorts are beginning to go cashless, many still handle significant amounts of cash, especially during the winter when traffic picks up at ski resorts.
At resorts as large as Jay Peak, there are usually multiple employees who assist with handling financial operations. After receiving cash, resorts typically audit it to ensure the amount is correct, and those audits can be used as a resource when money goes missing. Fnancial irregularities often lead to investigations.
About Jay Peak
Located in northern Vermont, roughly five miles south of the Canadian border, Jay Peak is a popular ski destination in the Northeast. Widely known for receiving heavy snowfall, Jay Peak features 385 skiable acres across 81 trails, serviced by 9 lifts. Jay Peak is also home to Vermont’s only large aerial tramway.
