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Charges against kennel owner bound for court

Additional charges against a Franklin Township kennel owner already incarcerated have been bound over for court.

Patricia E. Gadaleta, 53, of 974 Pohopoco Drive, Lehighton, appeared for a preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Bruce Appleton of Palmerton.Gadaleta, who had been arraigned via video conference by Appleton in September, faced six counts of identity theft, as well as one count each of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, forgery, and access device fraud.At the request of Gadaleta's defense attorney, four counts of identity theft were dismissed. A request by the defense to have one other count of identity theft dismissed was denied by Appleton.Gadaleta's next scheduled court appearance is at 9 a.m. Feb. 2, for a pre-trial conference before the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas.She has been recommitted to Carbon County Prison in lieu of $10,000, 10-percent bail.According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Nicholas De La Iglesia of the Pennsylvania State Police:Gadaleta utilized fraudulent information to open a Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) Account, specifically account 8397958482 in the alias name of El Pat Gadaleta, according to the affidavit.The date of birth, Pa. driver's license number, and social security number were not those of Gadaleta, the affidavit says.The social security number utilized to obtain this account is assigned to the defendant's sister, Elaine Bieniakowski, who did not give Gadaleta permission to utilize her identifying information.  Gadaleta did utter this typed information onto a PSECU General Membership Application, to fraudulently obtain this account.The PSECU issued an access device, which corresponded with the fraudulently obtained account of 8397958482. Gadaleta utilized this access device to obtain items from various stores, with the knowledge that the access device is unauthorized by the issuer since the account was obtained with fraudulent information.Between July 4-14, 2010, there were three ATM deposits that totaled $3,478 into account 8397958482. A $2,500 item from the First Commonwealth FCU account of Anthony Gadaleta, payable to cash, was returned "stop payment"; a $900 item from an unidentified Sovereign Bank account made payable to the member, returned "unable to locate"; and a $78 deposited item from the defendant's JP Morgan Chase account, payable to the member, returned to "closed account."Between July 4-14, there were three ATM disbursements that totaled $313; eight POS transactions that totaled $313.75; five check card transactions that totaled $3,154.78; one draft that totaled $43; and $12 in fees withdrawn before PSECU became aware of the fraudulent deposits. Available funds and one $79 payment were applied, leaving a negative balance of $1,807.95.The PSECU communicated with Gadaleta in an attempt to collect the $1,807.95. Gadaleta did not make any payments on this debt.Gadaleta also opened several other accounts utilizing fraudulent information; PSECU account 8386334968 was fraudulently opened by Gadaleta utilizing her husband's name, Anthony Gadaleta. Anthony Gadaleta's correct date of birth, social security number and address were utilized to open this account. However, a fraudulent PA driver's license number of 10978154 was utilized.Anthony Gadaleta was interviewed concerning this account, and he related that he did not open the account, and did not give Gadaleta permission to utilize his identifying information to open this account.Also, PSECU account 8440924382 was fraudulently opened by Gadaleta utilizing the name of Kostyantyn Koshel. Gadaleta is familiar with Koshel, and would be aware that he is not a resident of the United States.Also, PSECU account 8915898335 was fraudulently opened by Gadaleta utilizing the name of Patrice Breanna Godaltz. Further, Gadaleta utilized the PA driver's license number of Gregory McCauely to obtain this account.Lastly, PSECU account 8748448209 was fraudulently opened by Gadaleta utilizing the name of Patrice Teresa Godaltz. Further, Gadaleta utilized the PA driver's license number of Raymond Kuhar, Jr., to obtain this account.