Towamencin Police Photo by James Short.
Police said the victim was recovering from a fractured pelvis.
An in-home senior care employee from Hatfield is accused by Towamencin Township Police of stealing a client’s credit card in December and using it to pay down a $1,275 dental bill, according to an affidavit.
Stephanie M. Solomon, 38, of the 1700 block of Koffel Road, was charged May 20 with two felony counts of access device fraud and two misdemeanor charges of financial exploitation of an older adult, according to court documents. She is free on $5,000 unsecured bail, set by Magisterial District Judge Thomas P. Murt at arraignment May 21.
Police said the victim, of the 1000 block of Anders Road, Towamencin, reported fraud on her credit card account on Dec. 19, 2023.
It was revealed that the victim began using Home Instead Senior Care in October 2023, as she needed in-home care due to recovery from a fractured pelvis, police said. Solomon was the caseworker assigned to the victim for five days a week, to four to six hours a day, and she would do chores around the house and take the victim to various appointments, police said.
Furthermore, authorities allege, Solomon would use the victim’s Visa credit card to buy groceries.
On Dec. 8, 2023, the victim saw a $600 debit charge from Universal Dentistry in North Wales, Pa., according to the complaint. The card was still in the victim’s possession and she never used the dentist or gave anyone permission to use her card, police said. The victim was able to be refunded the money from her bank, police said. Later, the victim reported a second fraudulent transaction on her card made at Universal Dentistry, per the complaint.
Universal Dentistry told the victim that Solomon made the purchase, police said, who told them she was the victim’s granddaughter.
Police called Universal Dentistry and a representative told them that they had been trying to contact Solomon for several days since Dec. 4, 2023, due to a $1,275 dental bill, police said. Universal Dentistry, police said, eventually spoke to Solomon on Dec. 7, who told the dentist that she could make the payments with two credit cards. Solomon, police allege, provided the victim’s credit card information and both payments were processed.
Police spoke to the victim and asked about Solomon’s start time on Dec. 7, 2023, which is usually 9 a.m., and found out she arrived that day on time, but took the victim to physical therapy at 11 a.m. Police said Solomon would either stay the whole hour at physical therapy with the victim or leave to run errands.
The victim told police Solomon did not have permission to use her credit/debit card, police said.
On Dec. 19, 2023, Solomon went to Towamencin Police headquarters for an interview with police. During the inquest, Solomon, police said, claimed she and the victim had an verbal agreement to borrow the money, which Solomon would pay $600 back on Dec. 11, 2023. Police said Solomon got Covid and could not see the victim on Dec. 11, but would see the victim on Dec. 20 and give her the check.
Solomon told police her client would allow her to use her debit card to make a $600 payment to Universal Dentistry, according to the complaint, as Solomon’s card was expired. Solomon told police the victim gave verbal consent to Universal Dentistry during a phone call, per the complaint, but it was rejected due to being linked to a bank account.
Universal Dentistry denied everything, stating it accepts all forms of payment and that the company would not start any dental work unless all payments were made up front, police said.
Police said Solomon’s story contradicted with other persons’ statements, and discovered that while Solomon said the payment was made in the victim’s presence in her home, it was not possible as the victim was in a therapy session at the time of payment.
On April 14, 2024, Solomon was questioned by police about her discrepancies, even shown proof that the victim was not at home during the times of payment, police said. Solomon could not give a valid answer or reason as to the discrepancies, police said.
Solomon has a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 12 at 11:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Edward Levine.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
