Mt. Pleasant Township woman works with police in sting to nab 'agent' in bail scam

An Ohio woman who police said was part of a bail scam was arrested last week during a sting operation in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to court papers.

A township woman told police she received a call at 10:30 a.m. Thursday by a person claiming to be “Glenn Perkins” who said a family member needed bail money after being put in jail because of their involvement in a vehicle crash. The caller requested $8,500.

About 2 p.m., a woman described as an “agent” of the caller arrived at the Keyser Road house, collected the cash and provided a handwritten receipt, according to court papers.

The next day, the same caller again requested bail money, this time an additional $20,000. After the township woman attempted to withdraw the money and learned it was a scam, state police were contacted.

A trooper waited inside the house while the woman called the person claiming to be Glenn Perkins, who said an “agent” would stop by, according to court papers. When the same woman from the previous day parked outside and approached the house, police arrested her.

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The woman, identified by police as Richely Hiraldo, 24, of Cleveland, told troopers the $8,500 she picked up the previous day was in a laundry bag in the trunk of her car, according to court papers. She earns 20% of any money that is picked up, police said.

She was denied bail at the request of state police, according to online court records. Hiraldo is charged with theft and a related charge. She was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. She did not have an attorney listed in online court records. An Aug. 10 preliminary hearing is set.

Two people were arrested in a similar case earlier this year in Hempfield. A woman testified in April that she handed over $5,000 to a man she was led to believe was a bail bondsman after speaking by phone with a person who claimed to be her daughter’s attorney.

The Federal Trade Commission warns people to be vigilant against this type of family emergency scam, which can come in various forms and prey on the elderly. The commission warns to not give personal information or hand over cash, gift cards or wire money. Instead, hang up and check with family members to see whether the story is accurate.