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East Freedom Woman, Two Others Charged With Theft from Hollidaysburg Business

An East Freedom woman and two former co-workers are facing multiple felony charges in the theft of nearly a quarter of a million dollars from their former employer.

Stephanie D. Wyant, 52, of East Freedom; Jodie Potter Neely, 53, of Hollidaysburg; and Mandi L. Claycomb, 35, of Altoona were brought before Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner on Thursday, Jan. 16, for arraignment after an investigation by Hollidaysburg State Police into the theft of the money from Allegheny Real Estate Closing Co. Inc. of Hollidaysburg over a nearly 13-year period.

According to charges, police were called to Allegheny Real Estate Closing on Dec. 3, 2018 for the report of a disturbance. When police arrived on the scene, they were told by company officials that Neely had been stealing money from the company and was being terminated from employment. Police stayed on the scene while Neely gathered her belongings and left the premises.

Police began an investigation into the thefts and found that in December 2108, an audit of the company’s books by a forensic accountant allegedly discovered that Neely, who was the office manager, had forged signatures, changing the number of required signatures on an operating account from two signatures to one.

Police said the investigation showed that Neely allegedly took payments from an escrow account in the amount of $8,582.25 from 2009 to 2018.

Police also allege that Neely gave unauthorized raises to both Wyant and Claycomb.

Her employment was terminated in June 2018. Police said Wyant is Claycomb’s mother.

Police said Wyant told them that she knew Neely from work and that they are also friends outside of work.

Police said there was additional misappropriation of funds through mileage payments, credit card payments, health insurance, petty cash and additional payments made out to individuals known to Neely.

Police said the total amount of stolen funds was $231,872.91.

Neely faces felony counts of forgery, criminal conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Wyant and Claycomb were charged with felony counts of criminal conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Following their arraignment, all three were released on $75,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28 in front of Aigner.

 

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