PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — A 55-year-old Punxsutawney woman is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say she used a friend’s bank card without permission to fund an online gambling habit, racking up thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges over a period of several months.
Valerie L. Krolick has been charged with Access Device Fraud, Theft by Unlawful Taking, and Receiving Stolen Property. All three charges are third-degree felonies under Pennsylvania law.
How the Scheme Was Discovered
According to court records, the victim first noticed something was wrong when a routine withdrawal was rejected due to insufficient funds. Confused since the account should have had adequate money, the victim began reviewing recent activity and found a series of transfers that had not been authorized.
Those transfers, according to investigators, were sent from the victim’s account directly to a PayPal account belonging to Krolick. Once the pattern was flagged to police, detectives opened a formal investigation into where the missing money had gone and how it had been taken.
Officers say the case moved quickly once financial records were pulled. Bank statements reportedly showed a clear trail connecting the victim’s account to Krolick’s PayPal, with transfers taking place over several weeks between March and June.
Admission and Gambling Connection
When questioned by police, Krolick reportedly admitted to taking the funds. According to the criminal complaint, she told investigators she used the money to gamble online through the platform BetMGM, saying she was trying to win back money she already owed elsewhere.
In total, authorities allege Krolick took approximately $3,400 from the victim without consent. Investigators say the pattern of transfers, combined with her admission, formed the basis for the felony charges now filed against her.
Krolick is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 31 before Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock. At that hearing, a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to move forward to formal trial proceedings.
The case has drawn attention in the community, with several residents reacting to the news online. Some pointed to the broader dangers of gambling addiction, with one commenter noting the need for local support groups, saying the cycle can be difficult to break once someone is caught in it. Others were less sympathetic, arguing that using someone else’s money to keep gambling crossed a clear line regardless of the circumstances that led to it.
As of now, Krolick has not entered a formal plea, and the case remains in its early stages. Additional details are expected to come out as the preliminary hearing approaches and both sides prepare their arguments.
