A Bellefonte woman was charged yesterday with 27 counts total of theft, forgery, fraud and other charges for allegedly stealing more than $123,000 from her former employer, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
Pennsylvania Attorney General Jerry Pappert said at a press conference in State College yesterday Tina A. Smith, 48, has admitted to many of the allegations, though he would not specify which. He would not comment on how Smith was allegedly able to steal such a large amount of money.
Pappert said that beyond the criminal charges, the state is also seeking restitution from Smith.
Smith worked for PennDOT for 25 years and was a purchasing agent from 1998 until she was suspended from her job in April 2003. Smith allegedly used this position to steal from the department, Pappert said.
Court documents give the following account of Smith's alleged criminal activity during her employment at PennDOT:
Smith stole $84,827 by adding her name to the payee name on cash advance checks issued by PennDOT and intended for various suppliers. She then deposited the checks in her personal bank account.
Smith also used a PennDOT Visa card given to her as a purchasing agent to purchase more than 92 Wal-Mart gift cards. She used the gift cards to buy close to $18,000 worth of merchandise, including dog and cat food, household items and prescription drugs.
Smith also used the PennDOT Visa card to pay monthly utility bills, including her phone, cable and residential fuel oil bills. These expenditures totaled more than $11,400.
Aside from stealing money for personal use, Smith also ordered more than $175,000 worth of unneeded office supply and cleaning products.
It is still unclear how Smith profited from these alleged transactions, Pappert said. The Attorney General's office is conducting an investigation into the two companies Smith bought the supplies from, Pappert said.
Smith was arraigned yesterday at Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte. Bail was set at $100,000, and Smith was released on her own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
