Bridget Nicole Compton, 51, of Philadelphia. (Credit: Bucks County DA)
An employee at the Department of Public Welfare accused by Bucks and Montgomery County detectives of stealing than $130,000 from a resident of the Norristown State Hospital waived her preliminary hearing last week and moved all charges to Bucks County Common Pleas court for an April arraignment.
Bridget Nicole Compton, 51, was charged by authorities in December with access device fraud, identity theft, forgery and other crimes after allegedly diverting five checks from the victim's account to her own bank account, totaling $132,480.01.
An investigation began in November 2024 when the theft was reported by an interested third party, police said. Detectives determined that each of the checks was cashed at Cottman Check Cashing in Philadelphia, per the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
Investigators found alleged correspondence between Compton and the victim and found nothing to indicate that Compton was allowed to make financial transactions on the victim's behalf.
The victim told police that Compton's help was needed with an address change on the bank account so the victim can continue to receive mail from the bank, per the DA. However, Compton was never authorized to transfer money from the account, police said.
Compton allegedly told authorities she impersonated the victim in phone calls to the bank, authorizing checks to be sent to Compton's mom's house. Then, Compton allegedly retrieved the checks and liquidate them at the check cashing business.
Compton told police she spent all the money, which included a $10,000 gift to her mom and a Puerto Rico vacation in July 2023, according to investigators.
"I got the money in July and was broke by Christmas ... that's how quick it went," Compton allegedly told detectives.
The investigation is ongoing and being spearheaded by Bucks and Montgomery County detectives. The case will be prosecuted by Bucks County Deputy District Attorneys Brittney Kern and John Fegley.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
