Police seek Point Marion woman charged with theft
State police said a Point Marion woman who allegedly deceived several people into giving her money was charged with more than 70 counts of theft and access device fraud.
Misty Lee Swiger, 35, allegedly got people to give her cash — promising to pay their utility bills with her debit card — and instead paid their bills using a contracting business’s bank checking account. When the business owner noticed the unauthorized charges, and the bank reversed them, the women who gave Swiger money were left with past due accounts, and unpaid bills, according to a complaint filed Wednesday.
Trooper Thomas Broadwater alleged in a complaint that Swiger told at least two women a story about how her husband was injured at work or lost his job, and then convinced them that she needed cash.
Swiger allegedly told the women that she had a debit card to use to pay bills, but that she needed cash for other necessities, according to the complaint.
The women told police that they gave Swiger cash for payments for their phone and electric service, insurance and other accounts, believing she would make the payments out of her debit account. Swiger made the payments, but used a bank account registered to Metts & Sons, Inc., a general contracting company, police alleged.
Melda Jean Metts, a co-owner of the Vanderbilt company, came to police with 34 fraudulent transactions that cost the company $3,488.89, according to the complaint.
Kathleen Gibson of Grindstone told police that she thought she was helping Swiger, but realized something was amiss when Verizon called her to tell her that $2,000 in cellphone payments were being removed from her account.
Allegheny Energy also removed payments made to Gibson’s account, prompting a threat to shut off their electricity.
Gibson told police that she was able to pay the electric bill, but that she and her husband lost their cellphones because they could not pay the Verizon bill.
Similarly, Brooke Grimes of Smithfield told police that she gave Swiger money for a Verizon bill, a Geico insurance bill and a retail account, the complaint indicated.
When those charges were reversed, Grimes said, Swiger gave her some money back, but never completely reimbursed her, police alleged.
Swiger denied asking people for cash to pay bills when she was interviewed by police, according to the complaint.
The charges were filed before Senior Magisterial District Judge Robert Breakiron, and Swiger has yet to be arraigned.
A preliminary hearing will be set at a later date.