Police: Mother, 2 daughters made $250K in personal purchases on Washington County company's credit card

A Scottdale woman and her two daughters are accused of making $250,000 worth of unapproved purchases with a Washington County-based company’s credit cards, according to court papers.

Laurie Renee Christ, 52, and her daughters, Amanda Renae Christ, 30, of Jeannette, and Lyndsey Nicole Christ, 31, of Armstrong Township, Indiana County, were arrested Wednesday. State police charged them with theft and access device fraud.

All three women are free on $50,000 unsecured bond.

Troopers said in court papers that Laurie and Amanda Christ were employed by Connors Group, the owner of which lives in Hempfield. Laurie Christ worked as a record keeper for 11 years, and was authorized to make purchases using the company’s credit card for business-related expenses, issue credit cards to other employees and make payments, police said.

Amanda Christ, who worked as a human resources assistant there for two years, also had a company credit card.

Lyndsey Christ was not employed by the company. Police said she was given a credit card by her mother.

Troopers said when the company owner reviewed credit card statements between December 2015 and March 2019, he found about $250,000 in unapproved purchases. Police said Amanda Christ accounted for about $44,000 of that amount and Lyndsey Crist made about $78,000 worth of purchases.

“(Laurie Christ) told her daughters they could make personal purchases with the cards,” Trooper Evan Terek wrote in the complaint. “She altered the transactions in expense reports to appear as if they were approved transactions. She made payments against the debt using Connors Group’s business checking account.”

All three confessed to making personal purchases, according to court papers. The sisters gave lower figures — $15,000 by Amanda and $25,000 by Lyndsey — when questioned by troopers about the amount they charged. Police did not provide details in court papers about where the $250,000 was spent.

None of the three suspects could be reached Wednesday. They did not have attorneys listed in online court records. Preliminary hearings are set for Aug. 27.