Former Holiday Inn front desk agent accused of stealing credit cards from guest; charging over $100K

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh mom and former Holiday Inn front desk employee is accused of defrauding an elderly customer and trying to steal more than $100,000 from the hotel.

Police charged Amy Calabrese of Pittsburgh’s Northside with nearly 50 counts of access device fraud, identity theft and unlawful taking.

Police say Calabrese allegedly committed the crimes when she worked at the Holiday Inn Waterfront location.

According to the criminal complaint, Calabrese got caught after she used fake reservations in an attempt to refund money on two different credit cards.

Those same credit cards were also used to purchase items at nearby stores.

“There’s way more to this story,” said Calabrese.

Police paperwork says this started in October, when Calabrese saw the elderly guest fall in the parking lot and hit her head.

Calabrese allegedly helped the woman get treatment, but also stole her credit cards and took her car.

Police say she also used the cards to try to steal more than $100,000 from the hotel.

“I don’t care what they’re claiming. I have an attorney,” said Calabrese.

According to the criminal complaint, hotel management called police and said Calabrese used fake reservations to refund money on two of the cards she stole.

The refunds were done under five different names.

One card’s return total was more than $67,000, and another totaled more than $40,000.

“I don’t even have a password to do that,” said Calabrese.

Police say she also racked up charges at several businesses, including the waterfront Costco and Marshall’s, where she was on caught on-camera using the cards.

“Just because I go shopping doesn’t mean that.”

The Holiday Inn said, “This case is currently under investigation. We have no comment.”

Calabrese is set to go before a judge for her preliminary hearing on March 16.

The elderly victim remains in a senior care facility.

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