A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a New Philadelphia Borough employee, accused of using the municipality’s debit card to make thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases.
On Wednesday, Magisterial District Judge James Reiley issued the warrant for the arrest of Timothy Edmonds, 19, of Brockton. He’s being charged with felony counts of theft, receiving stolen property, and unauthorized use of a debit card, as well as a misdemeanor count of fraudulent use of government property.
Police in Blythe Township – which provides coverage for New Philadelphia – say they first received information regarding Edmonds’ use of the Borough debit card on Dec. 1.
Edmonds was hired as a New Philadelphia employee on Oct. 13. Three days later, Edmonds was reportedly tasked with purchasing supplies from Lowe’s.
Borough Council President Jennifer Colna reportedly told police, according to court records, that employees in Edmonds’ role are typically given a Borough-issued Lowe’s account card to make purchases there.
Since Edmonds was new on the job and not authorized to use that card, he was the Borough’s debit card to make purchases at Lowe’s.
Edmonds held on to that card from Oct. 16 through Nov. 21, Colna reportedly told police.
It was on Nov. 21 that New Philadelphia Secretary Kim Lutzkanin noticed multiple unauthorized transactions on the Borough’s debit card. She then notified Colna of the suspicious activity, who ordered the card to be collected immediately.
The purchases were from retail stores, restaurants, and smoke shops, Borough officials say. They totaled $8,152.99.
“Amazing Cigars” and Copper
Police say they spoke with Lutzkanin, who said she spoke with Edmonds about the unauthorized purchases she noticed on the Borough’s account. At first, she said, Edmonds denied making the purchases.
However, she and Edmonds met in-person to review the charges. At that meeting, Edmonds failed to provide receipts, she said, and the conversation ended abruptly.
Before Edmonds stopped talking with Lutzkanin, she said he smiled when he was asked about one particular vendor.
“The smoke shop,” he reportedly said. “I bought some amazing cigars with the damn account.”
Police say their investigation continued into Edmonds’ alleged unauthorized spending spree on the Borough’s dime. After obtaining receipts and surveillance images from Lowe’s, police determined that Edmonds used the Borough’s debit card to buy copper products from Lowe’s.
Edmonds then reportedly sold those items to Weiner Iron and Metal, in Pottsville. Those copper items were not authorized purchases for New Philadelphia, police say. “Multiple loads” of copper were sold by Edmonds to the scrap yard, police say.
Police say Edmonds also made an unauthorized purchase from Tractor Supply Company in Saint Clair using the Borough’s debit card.
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