Media, PA- District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer today announced that two County employees, Donna Perkins, 55, of Chester, and Keisha Buckley, 49, also of Chester, have been charged with felony theft and related charges for their actions in altering overtime records in the Fair Acres’ payroll system to increase their compensation. Both defendants were employed by the County’s skilled nursing facility, Fair Acres Geriatric Center.

“These two defendants worked in concert to defraud the taxpayers of Delaware County. Stealing from the public is a serious breach of the public trust as well as a crime. While the amount stolen is small compared to the County’s overall budget, the actions of these defendants are an insult to all the public servants who perform their job honestly every day. That’s why it was extremely important to everyone involved in County government that these defendants be investigated and prosecuted,” said DA Stollsteimer.

On September 27, 2021, Detective Michele Deery of the Criminal Investigation Division was contacted by William D’Amico, the administrator of Fair Acres, and advised that two employees were logging into the Fair Acres’ payroll system and adding unauthorized overtime hours to their pay. Detective Deery interviewed Faith Price, Fair Acres’ payroll supervisor, who was the first person to identify the discrepancies. D’Amico, Price and assistant administrator Donna Sweeney confronted employees Keisha Buckley and Donna Perkins, and both admitted to their fraudulent actions. Both defendants were terminated.

Working in cooperation with the County Controller’s office, investigators determined that in the period 2020-2021, defendant Buckley added overtime compensation in the amount of $7,450, while defendant Perkins added overtime compensation in the amount of $8,626.

“As the Controller for Delaware County, I want to commend the actions of the payroll supervisor who identified this theft. Stealing from the hard-working taxpayers of Delaware County cannot and will not be tolerated. My office is proud to have played a part in supporting this investigation and that our payroll systems provided the necessary safeguards to detect this theft. Moving forward, I can assure County residents that we will remain vigilant in looking for ways to improve the internal controls both at Fair Acres and throughout the County,” said Controller Joanne Phillips.

“I want to thank Michele Deery of CID for her work on this investigation, as well as the employees of Fair Acres and the Controller’s office who supported that work,” said DA Stollsteimer.

The defendants have been released on unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October 27, 2021 before Magisterial District Judge Walter Strohl.

The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division remind anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity to call 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies investigating the call for service.

CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

Contact: Margie McAboy, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 610-579-0429.