Hatfield Police.
The defendant was supposed to turn over 85% of sales to the victim, but failed to do so, authorities allege.
A Malvern man is accused of selling his ailing friend’s work equipment for more than a quarter-million dollars and then keeping all the proceeds for personal expenses and divorce costs instead of turning 85% of sales over to his friend.
A warrant for the arrest of Kevin Walsh, 66, of the 40th block of Creekside Lane, on felony charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and deceptive business practices was issued Nov. 8 by detectives at Hatfield Police, for incidents that occurred between May 2020 and May 2021, according to charging documents.
On Sept. 8, 2023, police responded to the 1800 block of Maple Avenue in Hatfield Township for a theft report that occurred between 2020 and 2021, police said.
The victim told police he was the owner of a millwork company on North Penn Road, but his health declined, resulting in him traveling abroad for surgeries and not being able to sustain the business, per the affidavit.
Due to closing the business, the victim had to sell a large amount of expensive equipment, police said. Thus, the victim hired his longtime friend Walsh to help sell the equipment in exchange for 15% of sales, per the affidavit. Walsh owned a liquidation company, police said.
Police allege Walsh sold all equipment and kept all proceeds instead of his agreed-upon 15% and turning the rest over to the victim. Walsh had told the victim he would pay him back, but has failed to do so, police said.
In fact, police reviewed text messages between the two as far back as 2020, which revolved around money that Walsh owed the victim, per the complaint. In numerous texts, Walsh would state he was coming up with the money, but would make an excuse and fail to pay, police said.
Detectives reviewed purchase orders, which shows money paid to Walsh’s company, and found them all marked “Received in Full,” authorities said. Police said Walsh did not pay the victim for any of the items listed on the purchase orders, ranging from May 2020 to May 2021.
All in all, Walsh allegedly kept $277,362.50, per the complaint.
On Sept. 4, 2024, Walsh arrived at Hatfield Police Department for an interview with detectives. There, Walsh told police he owed the victim between $200,000 and $250,000 for equipment he sold on the victim’s behalf, police said.
Walsh confirmed the purchase orders were accurate and that he spent the money on miscellaneous expenses and a divorce, per the affidavit.
Court records showed Walsh pleaded guilty to theft by deception in separate cases in 2020 and 2022, authorities said.
Furthermore, police said Walsh’s business had numerous bad reviews online and customers accused him of theft by deception.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
