Pennsylvania State Police were tipped off after accountants at Elwyn — a human services nonprofit organization — found what appeared to be excessive amounts of overtime during an internal audit in 2017.
"Through the course of the investigation, it was discovered that there were four supervisors who were manipulating the time-keeping system and fraudulently adding extra hours and shifts to their respective employees’ time sheets," explained Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland.
When Pennsylvania State Police looked at the actual timecards and compared them to schedules and supervisor edits, they determined the added hours were fraudulent.
"In return, the employee would either pay their supervisor with a portion of the proceeds or perform extra job-related favors," said Copeland.
Those supervisors — Tyloneous Wilson, Karriemah Williams, Lakiea Gay and Terrance Chatman — face felony charges, including theft by deception. They, along with 37 employees, are accused of stealing more than $920,000 from Elwyn over nearly two years, which offers services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"Instead of helping others — which is the very mission of their employer — these 41 people took advantage of their position of authority orchestrating an elaborate kick-back scheme for their own selfish gain," she added, calling the situation "disturbing."
Copeland credits Elwyn with immediately notifying state police when they realized there was an internal issue.