A Schuylkill County man is accused of using a credit card belonging to a woman his wife was house-sitting for to pay his own utility and phone bills.
Matthew Uroskie, 35, of Saint Clair, is now facing a felony charge of access device fraud as well as a misdemeanor count of theft.
State Police say they were dispatched to a residence on Panther Valley Road in North Manheim Township on Dec. 4, 2024, for a report of theft and fraud.
The victim told police she was reviewing her credit card statement when she noticed approximately $1,000 in excess charges on one of her cards.
Four unauthorized transactions made in November 2024, according to the victim:
- Nov. 1: A payment of $759.05 to AT&T.
- Nov. 15: A payment of $492.87 to AT&T.
- Nov. 21: A payment of $120.00 to PA Municipal Service.
- Nov. 21: A fee of $3.54 for the web payment to PA Municipal Service.
The victim told police she contacted PA Municipal Service regarding the charges. A representative there informed her the account associated with the payment belonged to Uroskie, the affidavit states.
Uroskie was identified by the victim as the husband of her house sitter, police say. She told police she travels for business every other weekend and hires a house sitter to watch her home. She noted that Uroskie frequently visits the home with his wife during those times without issue.
Police say they contacted PA Municipal Service and spoke with a utility assistant supervisor, who confirmed the utility company is contracted for Schuylkill Township waste disposal. The supervisor provided an invoice confirming the payment on Uroskie’s account was made using the victim’s credit card.
Investigators subsequently served a subpoena to the AT&T Global Legal Demand Center on Feb. 25. On July 11, police received account information confirming the two fraudulent AT&T bill payments were applied to Uroskie’s personal account.
Uroskie was arraigned on these charges last week before Magisterial District Judge AJ Serina, who set bail at $15,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2026.
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