The Gang Replaces Dee with a Monkey
Criminal Activities
Theft by Deception
Collecting money (cash/cashier's checks) from students for an acting class or services, then closing the business and refusing refunds can constitute theft by deception / fraud under U.S. law when the payer was induced to pay by false or misleading representations or when the operator intends to deprive payors of their money.
Situation:
"Dee runs an acting class and explicitly asks students for cash or cashier's checks as payment. Shortly afterward she announces 'Dee Reynolds Acting School is officially closed' and states there will be 'no return on investments' (i.e., no refunds). Taken together in the episode, this is an instance where a character accepted payment for a service and then closed the business and kept the funds, which is consistent with theft/fraud by deception."