An arrest warrant has been issued for a woman that allegedly stole thousands of dollars from a daycare in Minersville.
According to an affidavit by Minersville Police Sergeant Jeffrey Bowers, borough police responded to a report by the owner of K&E Friends Forever Daycare LLC, after she discovered a series of suspicious transactions totaling $5000 from the daycare's business account.
The investigation, which began on February 19, 2024, revealed that on January 16, 2024, $5000 was transferred from K&E Friends Forever's account at CACL FCU in Pottsville to another account, ultimately ending up in an account held by Kay M. Carvajal, 27, of Minersville, a former business partner.
The affidavit suggests that the transfer occurred via an in-house transaction at CACL FCU, implicating Carvajal due to her purported access to the login information.
Kay Carvajal's ties to the daycare reportedly ended in August 2021, following a legal dissolution of her partnership with the daycare's owner, Emily Taylor. The agreement, according to the affidavit, absolved Carvajal of any financial obligations or liabilities related to K&E Friends Forever.
Kay Carvajal's ties to the daycare reportedly ended in August 2021, following a legal dissolution of her partnership with the daycare's owner, Emily Taylor. The agreement, according to the affidavit, absolved Carvajal of any financial obligations or liabilities related to K&E Friends Forever.
Despite this, Taylor alleges that Carvajal failed to disassociate herself from the daycare's business account, leaving her with access to conduct the alleged embezzlement.
Emily Taylor's attempts to resolve the matter amicably included a certified letter sent by her attorney to Carvajal on January 24, 2024. The letter, informing Carvajal of the traced transaction and the opportunity to return the $5000 to avoid criminal charges, reportedly went unanswered despite Carvajal signing for its receipt.
Following the lack of response, law enforcement, on February 28, 2024, obtained a search warrant for transaction records related to the theft. The subsequent investigation confirmed the suspicious transfers, revealing a complex trail wherein the $5000 was initially deposited into an account belonging to Carvajal's 5-year-old daughter, before ultimately being transferred to Kay Carvajal's own account at CACL FCU.
Emily Taylor's attempts to resolve the matter amicably included a certified letter sent by her attorney to Carvajal on January 24, 2024. The letter, informing Carvajal of the traced transaction and the opportunity to return the $5000 to avoid criminal charges, reportedly went unanswered despite Carvajal signing for its receipt.
Following the lack of response, law enforcement, on February 28, 2024, obtained a search warrant for transaction records related to the theft. The subsequent investigation confirmed the suspicious transfers, revealing a complex trail wherein the $5000 was initially deposited into an account belonging to Carvajal's 5-year-old daughter, before ultimately being transferred to Kay Carvajal's own account at CACL FCU.
On Thursday, Minersville's Sergeant Bowers and Detective Thomas Robin filed felony charges of access device fraud, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property through Magisterial District Judge Dave Plachko's office.
UPDATE: On Thursday, February 28th, 2024, Carvajal was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David Plachko on the above charges. Judge Plachko set bail at $10,000 unsecured bail which was posted by Carvajal.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Judge Plachko on April 2nd, 2024.
Photo provided by Minersville Police