LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A Florida man is being charged after allegedly scamming money out form the Arts & Cultures Department of Lackawanna County.
Police are charging 23-year-old Michael Patrylo from Ovideo, Florida with Theft by Unlawful Taking, Theft by Deception, and Forgery along other charges.
Police say Patrylo allegedly represented himself as a person who works for L&A Tent Rentals from New Jersey.
Patrylo allegedly frauded the county out of $56,362.12 back in January after the county director of Arts and Cultures thought she sent the money to the tent company.
The company then contacted her looking for the money, and stating that the account she sent it to was not their account, but the account of Patrylo, according to the release.
Lackawanna County then filed a claim with the District Attorney’s Office to investigate the matter.
Patrylo faces a maximum penalty of 47 years in prison, a $95,000.00 fine, and a term of
supervised release following imprisonment.
