On 2/24/23 The Pine Creek Township Police Department arrested Kathy M. Lachat, 60, of Manor Village Avenue, Pine Creek Township on charges following an investigation involving fraudulent activity against two elderly victims of Avis Borough.
Kathy Lachat has been charged with:
792 counts of Identity Theft (Felony 3)
7 counts of Forgery (Felony 2)
2 counts of Access Device Fraud (Felony 3)
3 counts of Theft (Felony 3)
3 counts of Receiving Stolen Property (Felony 3)
9 counts of Theft (Misdemeanor 3)
9 counts of Receiving Stolen Property (Misdemeanor 3)
2 counts Access Device Fraud (Misdemeanor 3).
The investigation began when a female contacted the Pine Creek Township Police and reported her mother (90) and step father (88) had both passed away and while going through their estate and financial records she started to notice fraudulent activity on all their accounts.
The woman reported that Kathy Lachat was known to the family and was a niece to the victims. Kathy Lachat had started coming around the victim’s house in early 2019. Lachat gained the trust of the elderly victims and began doing some grocery shopping for them. Lachat was able to obtain the victims credit cards and retained the cards for her personal use. Lachat used the one victim’s card for her personal use while the victim was hospitalized for approximately 30 days. It was discovered on the day the victims mother passed away Lachat used her credit card to make purchases at 2 locations. Kathy Lachat used the victims credit card to pay for her vehicle insurance online. Through the investigation it was discovered that Lachat would have the victim(s) sign blank checks for Lachat to pay a bill and Lachat would write checks to herself.
During the execution of a search warrant at Lachats residence, numerous financial items belonging to the victims was discovered in Lachats residence to include blank checks, credit card statements and other mail items.
It is estimated that Kathy Lachat used the victims 5 financial accounts for personal gain totaling over $58,000.
Kathy Lachat was already incarcerated in the Clinton County Correctional Facility on similar charges filed on 2/3/23 involving another elderly female along with a probation detainer.
Lachat was arraigned by District Judge Kibler and bail was set at $10,000 monetary. Lachat remains incarcerated in the Clinton County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 2/27/23 for both cases.
Click here to view the Docket Sheet
Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
