15°
Edison Pena-Roman, 45, is facing multiple felony charges for stealing checks from businesses throughout Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton counties, the Hilltown Township Police Department said in a Monday, Oct. 21 news release.
Pena-Roman was working for an unnamed, Bath-based transportation company that delivers mail to and from various post offices, according to police.
The investigation into Pena-Roman began in February when a Hilltown Township business reported that a check was stolen out of the mail system and deposited into an unknown person's bank account, police said.
Officers eventually learned that it was Pena-Roman who had stolen the check, according to police. They also found that Pena-Roman had been stealing "numerous" business checks from the mail during the course of his work.
He would then deposit the checks into his own bank account through a mobile banking app or at a local Allentown bank's ATM, police said. Pena-Roman stole $22,295 in this manner.
An arrest warrant was issued for Pena-Roman in September, according to police. The Pennsylvania State Police arrested him on Saturday, Oct. 12, and the Hilltown Township Police Department took him into custody on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Pena-Roman was charged with:
- Felony Forgery-Unauthorized Act in Writing (five counts).
- Felony Theft of Mail-Unlawful Transfer (five counts).
- Felony Access Device Issued to Another Who did not Authorize Use (five counts).
- Felony Receiving Stolen Property (five counts).
- Felony Criminal Use of Communication Facility (five counts).
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19, according to court documents. Pena-Roman is currently being held in the Bucks County Correction Facility on $2,000 bail.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bethlehem and receive free news updates.
