Police: Man used 'special key' to gain access to skill games, cash fraudulent $5K voucher

Allegheny Valley Police charged a North Carolina man with felony fraud and criminal conspiracy after, they say, he used a generic key to gain access to cash vouchers in a skill game machine at a Cheswick Sunoco in July.

Jhueate Andrews, 25, then cashed a $5,000 voucher he obtained from the machine, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.

“This cash was claimed not through actual means of playing the machines but opening up the machines and stealing the voucher cards. … No one is supposed to have access to this section of the machines, as it is locked and sealed away from the public, needing a special key,” the complaint said.

Camera footage shows Andrews tampering with the machine while a female companion “half distracts” the clerk or plays another nearby machine, the complaint said.

The owner of the machines, who is not identified in the complaint, told police the two have gone to different stores throughout Pennsylvania and other states performing similar actions, according to the complaint.

Andrews is charged with felony theft and conspiracy in Lancaster County, and theft and possession of an instrument of crime in Blair County.

Allegheny Valley Police Chief Michael Naviglia said his department has issued a warrant for Andrews’ arrest, but they don’t have him in custody.

The chief said he believes similar incidents occurred at skill game machines in Harrison, though Andrews isn’t currently charged there.

Naviglia said he has never seen an alleged incident like this before.

“We’re seeing newer and newer stuff every day,” he said.