Cops: Devon Prep employee went on spending spree with school credit card
A former employee at Devon Prep has been charged with using a school credit card to pay for numerous personal expenses, including airline flights, vacation rentals and online purchases of Ambien, police said.
John Patrick Sullivan, 46, of the 800 block of Philip Drive in Phoenixville, is facing third-degree felonies including credit card fraud, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
According to the criminal complaint, Sullivan used a school credit card that he was authorized to use – but only for school purchases. Instead, he made nearly $15,000 in personal purchases, according to the affidavit of probable cause issued for his arrest.
The alleged fraud was first reported to police in early May by the school’s director of operations when she discovered several unauthorized purchases on a Bank of America credit card.
A review of bank statements dating back to May of 2018 showed numerous unauthorized purchases that had been made. Other purchases included veterinary services, cell phone and restaurant bills.
When the merchants were contacted, they reported Sullivan made the purchases, police said.
School officials told police they interviewed Sullivan on May 14, and he told them he mistakenly used the credit card and that he would pay the school back. He also denied purchasing the Ambien. Following the interview, he was fired, according to police.
Police said investigators were first given documentation showing 18 purchases that were made between May 4, 2018, and April 30, 2019, totaling more than $10,400.
Later, additional information on a number of smaller purchases for items such as gas, food and monthly parking fees at CHOP were provided to police. That brought the total $14,617.
School officials also reported that four boxes of Ambien had arrived at the school with Sullivan’s name on it. The last box came after he was fired.
On May 22, Devon Prep received a letter from Sullivan telling the school that some of the charges were made by mistake. A check for $3,312 was also sent with the letter.
Sullivan was arrested and arraigned May 30. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 26 in front of Magisterial District Judge Thomas Tartaglio.
A call and email to the school for comment was not returned.