A traveling health care worker from Louisiana who police said has a history of theft is accused by Washington Township authorities of stealing a debit card belonging to a patient and using it at a grocery store, according to court papers.
Family members of the patient at Quality Life Services, a skilled nursing facility and personal care home, told police they spotted a suspicious $134 charge Saturday on her debit card from the Giant Eagle in New Kensington. Investigators learned the patient’s debit card, Social Security card, driver’s license and birth certificate were missing.
The patient’s aide, Lakeisha S. Pugh, 35, an employee of an outside agency, was seen on grocery store surveillance video making the purchase, police said.
Pugh has a history of theft and access device fraud, authorities said in court papers. She is charged with financial exploitation, theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud.
She was denied bail during an arraignment Monday and was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. An attorney was not listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 10.
