Published: January 22, 2008 11:01 pm      

Former Pizza Hut employee arrested in identity theft of customers

MUNDYS CORNER — A Mineral Point woman was placed in Cambria County Prison after Jackson Township police said she had used customer credit-card accounts to make $6,700 in charges via the Internet.

Jamie Lynn Roush, 30, of the 100 block of Johndora Road, reportedly obtained bank card numbers and customer names while working at Pizza Hut in Ebensburg.

Police Chief Robert Fatula said he and Officer Melanie Kline received a complaint earlier this month from a township resident about an unauthorized charge on a credit card.

Further investigation with Master Card and Visa companies yielded a number of unauthorized charge disputes in the region, and all had a common denominator: The victims all had patronized the same restaurant at least once since May.

Kline eventually traced the fraudulent purchases to Roush, who reportedly used the information to buy products or services via the Internet.

“After questioning (Roush), the officer found out she was an employee of Pizza Hut in Ebensburg,” Fatula said. “We obtained a search warrant for Roush’s house and found evidence that would indicate her being involved in identity theft.”

A man who identified himself as Tom and manager of the restaurant said he could not comment about the incident.

It is unknown what job duties Roush performed, or how long she was employed there.

Fatula said the incident also may be linked to a similar string of incidents at some Subway restaurants in the Pittsburgh area, and police there have been notified.

Roush was arraigned Saturday in front of District Judge John Barron of Upper Yoder Township. She was charged with seven counts each of identity theft, access device fraud, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Roush also was charged with one count each of intimidating a witness and false swearing.

The charges have been transferred to District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi’s office of Vinco. Roush remains jailed in lieu of $40,000 bond.

Fatula urged anyone who used a bank card at the restaurant since May to call police.

“They could be a victim and not even know it yet,” Fatula said, adding that some of the victims who have been notified were unaware their cards had been used illegally. Jackson Township police can be contacted at 749-0051.