Susquehanna County emergency management official charged with identity theft

Susquehanna County's director of emergency management has been charged with identity theft against a former county employee.

The arrest of Robert J. Thatcher, Jr., 32, was announced Wednesday by the Susquehanna County District Attorney's Office in Pennsylvania. Thatcher, of Hallstead, was charged with identity theft, access device fraud and receiving stolen property. 

A former employee of the Susquehanna County Emergency Management Agency was alerted by creditors that his identity had been used to open multiple fraudulent accounts, prosecutors said.

The county's Law Enforcement Task Force launched an investigation.

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Prosecutors said Thatcher, while in the position of director of the Susquehanna County EMA, allegedly used the former employee's personal information to open credit card accounts and make an online purchase after the former employee had left the agency.

Further details of the investigation were not disclosed by authorities Wednesday.

Thatcher has been released on $5,000 unsecured bail, to await a tentative preliminary court hearing on Monday. 

Pennsylvania State Police from Gibson, Montrose Borough Police and the Susquehanna County DA's office collaborated during the investigation. 

On Twitter: @PSBABorrelli

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