UPDATE: Franklin Man Arrested for Allegedly Obtaining, Using Credit Cards in Grandmother’s Name

| January 6, 2017

HandcuffsFRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – A Franklin man was arrested after it was discovered that he obtained credit cards in his grandmother’s name and charged around $2,600.00 in purchases.

According to online court documents, the Sugarcreek Borough Police filed criminal charges against 35-year-old Michael Allen Umstead, of Franklin.

The incident occurred sometime between September 1, 2016 and January 4, 2017, on Allenbaugh Road, in Franklin.

According to a criminal complaint, “on January 4, a known victim arrived at the Sugarcreek Borough Police Station and reported that her grandson was picked up for a domestic relations warrant on January 3, so she picked up the mail, which Umstead usually does. In the mail, she found a credit card statement from American Express Blue in her name, and she never applied for one. She looked at the statement, and all of the information for her was correct. The statement indicated that there was a balance of $1524.34.”

The victim reported that she and another known relative checked Umstead’s wallet and found the American Express card and another card from Bank of America. The Bank of America card was also in the victim’s name, and she states that she did not apply for that card, as well. The balance of the Bank of America card is at $1100.34, the complaint indicates.

Police then questioned Umstead about the cards. He allegedly stated that he did apply for both cards over the internet at the same time without his grandmother’s knowledge or permission, and that he did use the card due to the cost of domestic relations, according to the complaint.

Umstead was arraigned at 1:12 p.m. on January 4 in front of Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey on the following charges:

– Identity Theft, Felony 2
– Access Device Issued to Another Who Did Not Authorize, Felony 3

Bail was set at $15,000.00 monetary bail.

Umstead remains in the Venango County Jail.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on January 11 in Venango County Central Court in front of Judge Lowrey.


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