Estate sale operator gets probation for keeping profits from clients

A Wichita woman has been placed on probation for two years after performing a series of estate sales and failing to give her customers their share of the profits, according to a news release from District Attorney Marc Bennett.

Carol Holmes, 59, who was operating as H&H Estate Sales, pleaded guilty to one count of felony theft earlier this year.

District Court Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced her to 24 months of probation Wednesday, and if she violates the terms of her probation, she could be sentenced to 13 months in prison, according to the release.

Holmes must also pay $42,806.44 in restitution to eight victims and their families that Holmes did business with from 2009 to 2014.

The Better Business Bureau scored her business an F.

As part of the terms of her probation, Holmes cannot work in any capacity where she has financial responsiblity to another person, and she can no longer engage in estate sales.

This story was originally published June 10, 2015 at 6:53 PM with the headline "Estate sale operator gets probation for keeping profits from clients."