Montgomery County, PA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 13, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Chief Michael Dykie of the New Hanover Police Department announce the filing of a criminal complaint against Joelle SPEIDEL. During the time period between October of 2007 and March of 2009, SPEIDEL misappropriated funds from an account held jointly by her uncle and her elderly grandmother.

  
Martin WOODMAN and his mother, Mary WOODMAN opened a joint account with Fidelity Brokerage Services (FBS) online in February of 2007. Martin WOODMAN and Mary WOODMAN asked a relative, Joelle SPEIDEL to assist because of her educational background in finance. Joelle SPEIDEL is the niece of Martin WOODMAN and granddaughter of Mary WOODMAN

 

Joelle SPEIDEL created a username and password online that enabled her to transfer funds electronically from her grandmother’s Fidelity account to SPEIDEL’S own personal bank account in addition to electronic check payments for SPEIDEL’S personal expenses.

 

The following unauthorized activity occurred on the Fidelity Fund account:

 

1)  October 16, 2007 - $1,100 electronic transfer to Joelle SPEIDEL
2)  November 21, 2007 - $1,100 electronic transfer to Joelle SPEIDEL
3)  November 26 & 27, 2007 to Citibank totaling $3,500
4)  December 4, 2007 withdrawal totaling $9,525.71 covering payments to American Education Services; Citizens Auto Finance; AT&T Mobility; Discover; Bancorp; Wells Fargo Financial.
5)  January 2008 withdrawals totaling $20,745.72 payable to Discover; Bancorp; St. Joseph’s University and American Education Services.
6)  February 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 27,471.97
7)  March 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 7,535.72
8)  April 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 13,850
9)  May 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 16,398.41
10) June 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 11,750.
11) July 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 6,650 along with the EFT of $700 plus the sale of the Verizon & AT&T stocks.
12) August 2008 bill payment totaling $ 6,975.21 along with the EFT of $700 and the sale of the AT&T Stocks.
13) September 2008 bill payment activity totaling $280 along with the sale of  AT&T stocks.
14) October 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 11,287.37 plus two AT&T Sales transactions.
15) November 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 8,703.89 plus two AT&T sales transactions.
16) December 2008 bill payment activity totaling $ 7,900 plus two AT&T sales transactions.
17) January 2009 bill payment activity totaling $ 10,036.58 plus two AT&T sales transactions.
18) February 2009 bill payment activity totaling $ 2,678 plus two AT&T sales transactions.
19) March 2009 bill payment activity totaling $ 2,208 plus two AT&T sales transactions. 

 

The total dollar amount for the unauthorized Electronic Fund Transfers and bill payments as it relates to the FBS account are $169,404.   SPEIDEL used the money to pay for various personal expenses including tuition to St. Joseph’s University, car payments and vacations.

 

On July 20, 2009 Joelle SPEIDEL came to the New Hanover police station to make a voluntary statement about the missing money.
In her statement, she admitted to being the sole responsible party for the missing money related to the Fidelity account and that she was the holder of the username and password for the FBS and Univest accounts.   In her statement she admitted that she was not authorized or given permission to make these transactions.   She further admitted that the money was used towards her own personal living expenses and trips.

 

SPEIDEL will be arraigned on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at the Courtroom of Magisterial District Judge Maurice H. Saylor, which is located at1881 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville,  PA 19525.  This case will be prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Economic Crime Unit in conjunction with the Elder Abuse Unit.  Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Strubel is assigned to prosecute the case.

 

     Approved for release:

 

     Risa Vetri Ferman