Woman allegedly takes law firm’s money on spree

By JARED STRONG
j.strong@carrollspaper.com

A 54-year-old former Scranton woman was arrested last week for allegedly using a Jefferson law firm’s credit cards to buy hundreds of items for herself over the course of nearly two years.

Crystal Kay Conroy faces two felonies for ongoing criminal conduct and credit card fraud, which together are punishable by up to 35 years in prison.

The alleged fraud was discovered in April after Conroy was fired by Rasmussen Law Office, 105 E. Lincoln Way, and her replacement reviewed credit card statements and “found many things that were financially alarming,” according to court records.

“Over the almost two-year spending spree, Crystal made 377 personal item related transactions with the two credit cards,” a criminal complaint alleges.

The amount Conroy allegedly charged to the credit cards — with interest — totaled nearly $23,000.

“During her employment (attorney) Mark (Rasmussen) was practicing law and left the bill paying up to Crystal,” the complaint says. “Mark advised he would ask for a balance on the credit cards but would get very vague answers, and (Conroy) would never give him a straight answer on it.”

The bulk of the unauthorized transactions were with Amazon.com, court records show, but Conroy also used the card at, among others:

• A business where fingernails are painted.

• A bowling alley.

• A lumber yard.

• Home improvement stores.

• A casino.

Conroy was arrested Nov. 22 and released from jail.

She had agreed in August to talk with a police officer about the credit card transactions but said she wanted to consult with her attorney first.

Conroy allegedly never arranged a meeting with police, so a judge issued a warrant for her arrest three weeks ago.

Conroy is unemployed and living in Elkhart in northeast Iowa, according to her request for a court-appointed attorney.

She has filed for federal disability retirement, but it’s unclear what disability she might suffer from.