2 women charged in Upper Saucon motel robbery
Two women, one who was sent to state prison in 2013 for scamming the late Bethlehem philanthropist Marlene “Linny” Fowler of more than $1.25 million, were charged in the beating and robbery of a woman Tuesday at an Upper Saucon Township motel.
Shawnta Carmon, 38, of Allentown, and Toccara Adams, 33, of Bethlehem, were charged with robbery, conspiracy, simple assault, theft and receiving stolen property.
Carmon was arraigned Wednesday by District Judge Michael D’Amore and sent to Lehigh County Jail under $15,000 bail. Adams had not yet been arrested Thursday afternoon.
Gervais W. Oglesby, 28, of Whitehall Township, also was charged, according to court records, which identified him as a person involved in setting up the robbery. He was sent to jail under $5,000 bail on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving on a suspended license and driving an unregistered vehicle.
In 2013, Carmon was sentenced to three to six years in prison for taking advantage of Fowler. Carmon and her estranged husband were charged after a Northampton County grand jury found that for more than four years, ending in 2012, the couple lied to Fowler about dental treatment they couldn’t pay for; a niece hoping to get through college; and a daughter who required a transplant.
Instead, they spent the money on clothes, jewelry, limousines and gambling, said prosecutors, who put the theft at about $1.27 million.
According to a criminal complaint in Tuesday’s assault and robbery:
Upper Saucon police were at the Knights Inn on Route 309 at 2:30 p.m. on a follow-up investigation when a woman walked in and said there had been a robbery, pointing out a black car and a white car that were leaving the parking lot. Police pursued the black car, which weaved in and out of traffic. After pulling it over on Route 309, they detained Oglesby, who was the driver, and Carmon, a passenger.
Police spoke to the woman, who said she used a cellphone app to arrange a meeting at the motel with a man she only knew as “Eric.” A black car showed up with two men inside and she invited them into her room. There, Oglesby received a call and opened the door to Carmon and Adams, who punched the woman and placed their hands around her throat, the woman told police.
The woman crawled away and called for help, telling police two cellphones were stolen from her.
Morning Call reporter Manuel Gamiz Jr. can be reached at 610-820-6595 or mgamiz@mcall .com.