Scottdale woman ordered to pay $133K in restitution for unauthorized use of business credit cards
A Scottdale woman was ordered Friday to make mandatory $200 monthly restitution payments as part of a plea agreement connected to the fraudulent use of credit cards belonging to a Washington County-based company.
Laurie Renee Christ, 54, was sentenced to seven years of probation and six months under house arrest with electronic monitoring after pleading guilty to theft, conspiracy and access device fraud. She and her two daughters were arrested in August 2019 in connection with $250,000 worth of unapproved purchases with credit cards belonging to the Connors Group, whose owner lives in Hempfield.
Christ was ordered to pay $133,000 in restitution. She declined to make a statement prior to being sentenced by Judge Tim Krieger.
She worked as a record keeper for the company 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, according to court papers.
Her daughter Amanda Christ worked as a human resources assistant there for two years and also had a company credit card. Police said Lyndsey Christ was not employed by the company but was given a credit card by her mother. Both daughters are awaiting court action in their cases. They are facing theft and access device fraud charges.
Police said the unapproved purchases were made between December 2015 and March 2019. Laurie Christ altered the transactions in expense reports and made payments against the debt using the business’ checking account, according to court papers.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Love Dupilka said the restitution payments will be directed to the Connors Group and its credit card company. Christ was granted work release. She told Krieger that she was able to pay $200 monthly toward the restitution amount. Prosecutors left the amount up to her and the judge to decide.
“I want you to promise me what you know you can do, not what you hope you can do,” he said.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.