Alleged con artist arrested in sting
WEST BETHLEHEM TWP. – State police in Washington County have filed multiple charges against a Waynesburg man accused of attempting to con undercover officers into making a bogus real estate purchase. Walter James Moore, 31, was charged Friday before Magisterial District Judge Larry W. Hopkins with three counts of forgery, two counts of theft and a single count of attempted theft after he was caught trying to sell 57 acres of land he claimed he owned in Amwell Township, Washington County, to an undercover officer. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Moore selected his victims from a weekly advertising magazine published in the region.
After an alleged victim, who was not identified, contacted police about being scammed by Moore, a trooper working undercover placed an ad in the publication Aug. 6.
Police said Moore contacted the officer and requested $600 to hold 57 acres of land he purportedly owned. After paying Moore to hold the property during a meeting Friday, police took him into custody.
Following his arrest, Moore admitted to police that he had conned as many as nine people in similar schemes, police said.
He also used an alias to conduct the scams, police said.
Moore was placed in the Washington County Prison on $35,000 straight cash bond, following his arraignment.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 3 before Magisterial District Judge David Mark.