A Lancaster couple is facing theft charges after police claim they defrauded a 16-year-old of nearly $50,000 in earned wages, according to Manheim Township Police records.
Following a police investigation, Matthew Davis, 48, and Shelley Davis, 45, were charged with felony theft and conspiracy to commit theft.
Officials claim the 16-year-old victim went to the Manheim Police Department on August 7, 2024, to report a theft from his Fulton Bank account.
The kid informed authorities that the Davises assisted him in opening a bank account to save money for college and a future vehicle. He also informed investigators that while doing part-time jobs, he would give Matthew Davis his paychecks to put into his account.
According to the arrangement, the victim could spend half of the money, but the other half would go into savings.
According to investigators, in June 2021, the victim instructed Matthew Davis to make withdrawals from the account because he had never received a debit card or checks.
Investigators then contacted the victim, who indicated that in 2024, he received bank statements indicating approximately 75 fraudulent transfers from his account to another account co-owned by Shelley Davis.
A search order was requested for Matthew and Shelley Davis’ bank accounts, which revealed the identical fraudulent transfers totaling $46,302. According to police, the total amount matched the victim’s earnings from part-time employment held between 2017 and 2023.
Investigators discovered that one transaction worth $5,000 was withdrawn and used by Matthew Davis to purchase a vehicle.
From 2018 to 2022, the Davises collected a total of $1,744 in tax refunds under the victim’s name. Police discovered that Davis never placed any of the victim’s checks into a bank account.
According to a criminal affidavit, the victim has yet to get compensation.
Matthew Davis’ preliminary hearing was held on May 27. A preliminary hearing for Shelley Davis has been scheduled for June 24.