WEST HARTFORD, CT (STN2) – Gina Lauri, owner of The Place 2 Be restaurants, has been arrested and charged with second-degree larceny and issuing bad checks totaling over $10,000, according to police.

According to East Hartford police, the investigation began when a manager from Restaurant Equipment Paradise filed a fraud complaint, alleging Lauri wrote bad checks totaling $10,821.66 for equipment purchases.

The West Hartford location closed two months ago, after the state suspended their sales tax permit. Yet, the Department of Revenue Services says the location now has a valid license/permit once again. The West Hartford location appears to remain closed.

The New Haven location closed for unpaid rent, and the Springfield, Massachusetts, location was evicted.

The only location that is still open is the Place 2 Be on Franklin Avenue in Hartford. However, that branch has been converted into a bakery.

At this time her attorney has no comment.