A 23-year-old Cudahy woman is facing charges after she allegedly embezzled money while working as an assistant manager at an Oak Creek pizza restaurant.

Stephanie M. Zahn was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Tuesday with theft of more than $2,500. If convicted, she could face up to 3 ½ years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

In March, the general manager of Papa John's Pizza noticed Zahn made a high number of transactions in which orders were "zeroed out," which means someone has an issue with their order and can get a new item or free meal from the store. He also noticed Zahn gave larger orders 100 percent discounts when the customers came to the store, 8645 S. Howell Ave.

He called some of the people who made those orders, and they said they got food from the restaurant and paid cash. When the general manager confronted Zahn about the high number of "zeroed out" orders made in December, the transactions stopped for several weeks, only to begin again.

The total loss through the transactions by Zahn was estimated at $3,400.

Zahn admitted to cancelling out the orders so she could take the money at the end of her shift, so the cash drawer would remain balanced and no one would catch on to the theft. She told police she took the money because she fell behind on rent and had a difficult time making it as a single mother.

Zahn also told police she had planned to stop stealing the money in April or May because she planned to get a second job.

She will make her initial court appearance Thursday.