15 August 2023- After passing fake checks and trying to pass more, Pennsylvania State Police say a Doylestown woman is looking at a litany of felonies for defrauding banks with stolen information. Suzette Morales failed to post bail of $150,000 after being charged with six counts of felony forgery, two counts of felony access device fraud, felony identity theft, felony theft by deception, felony criminal attempted theft by deception, six counts of felony receiving stolen property, and two counts of misdemeanor possession of a device known to be counterfeit or altered.
Police were alerted shortly after multiple incidents at two Patriot Federal Credit Union branches in Chambersburg. Troopers say that on June 15th around 2:20pm, Suzette Morales impersonated a victim by using the latter’s Patriot debit card and PA driver’s license that were stolen from a vehicle in Hagerstown. Morales allegedly passed multiple checks totaling $5,350 while at the drive-up window of one of the branches.
Later that same day around 3pm, Morales reportedly attempted to cash another check for $2,742 at another Patriot branch in Chambersburg but fled when bank employees questioned some irregularities. Morales allegedly left without even taking the stolen debit card and license.
Police became involved after this instance when Doylestown Township PD and Upper Moreland Township PD officers both identified Morales in surveillance footage of the incidents.
Fulton Bank recalled the two checks that were cashed at Patriot totaling $5,350, which caused a total loss for Patriot.
Suzette Morales failed to post bail of $150,000. Her preliminary hearing is set for August 22nd.
Sources: Docket Number: MJ-39307-CR-0000169-2023, Incident No.: PA 2023-917894
