Woman hired to help people with finances accused of stealing money

GREENSBURG, Pa. — A woman hired to help people in Westmoreland County with their finances is accused of stealing thousands.

The Westmoreland County Housing Authority was trying to give residents extra financial guidance.

Police said Lynn Ryan racked up more than $6,000 in charges on a Monessen woman's credit card she was meant to help.

Ryan, of Brownsville, was hired as a service coordinator for the Housing Authority, and was supposed to help residents with payment plans and housing questions.

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The victim lives on a fixed income in Westgate Manor. She told police she gave Ryan her credit card so she could help her pay her bills, but police said instead, Ryan was using it, to pay bills of her own.

From the end of February to early May, police said she made 20 charges, accruing enough money to overdraft the victim's account.

When police interviewed Ryan, she allegedly told investigators it was a mistake, and she shouldn't be helping residents pay their bills. She told police she had the victim's card information on her computer, and when she paid her bills, she mistakenly used the victim's card number instead of her own.

The Housing Authority told Channel 11 Ryan is no longer an employee and her position has been replaced.

Cox Media Group