PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) — A routine bank transaction in Punxsutawney led to the arrest of a Mercer County woman wanted in multiple states for fraud.
Lashawn Maureen Swift, 41, of Farrell, was taken into custody on October 1, 2024, at Farmer’s National Bank in Punxsutawney. Swift is facing a second-degree felony charge of forgery for allegedly altering a writing.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Punxsutawney Borough Police Officer Patrick Renwick, bank staff recognized Swift from a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert issued earlier that day. The alert warned of a woman attempting to withdraw money using false identification.
Swift allegedly presented a fraudulent Ohio driver’s license bearing the name Penny Pavelko when attempting to make the withdrawal. A bank employee contacted authorities upon recognizing Swift from the alert.
Court documents indicate that Swift is wanted in Denver, Colorado, for similar offenses. She also has multiple outstanding warrants in both Colorado and Pennsylvania.
Following her arrest, Swift was unable to post the $80,000 bail set by Magisterial District Judge Douglas Robert Chambers. She is currently being held at Jefferson County Prison.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2024, before Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock.
Swift has been assigned public defender John Mark Ingros to represent her in the case. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.