Police: Bank’s $120,000 error sent couple on spending spree

A Pennsylvania couple who had $120,000 mistakenly deposited into their bank account face theft charges after allegedly spending the money.

Robert and Tiffany Williams of Montoursville, Pennsylvania, bought an SUV, paid their bills and handed money out after a teller accidentally deposited the cash into their account May 31, state police said in court records, according to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and WNEP-TV.

The couple never told the bank, and their account had $1,121 before the mistake, the Sun-Gazette reported.

In June, the bank realized what happened and withdrew the full amount from the couple’s account. They had already spent much of the money and had an overdraft of about $107,000, WNEP-TV reported.

Among their purchases, according to state police, per WNEP-TV: a down payment for a Chevrolet SUV, two four-wheelers, a camper and a car trailer. They allegedly paid bills, made cash purchases and gave $15,000 to friends in need.

The bank contacted Tiffany Williams, who said they didn’t have the money anymore but she would talk with her husband to figure out how they might repay, according to the Sun-Gazette.

In July, state police were contacted when the couple stopped communicating with the bank, the newspaper reported. The couple allegedly told investigators they knew the money wasn’t theirs but still spent it.

The couple were arraigned Tuesday on felony theft charges and released on $25,000 bail. A man who said he was Robert Williams’ father told WNEP-TV, “I have no idea what’s going on, I don’t know what to tell you.”

State police did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment Monday.