A criminal complaint filed through District Judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said Franklin police Patrolman Bradley Barnhill was assigned to investigate the possible theft of a motor vehicle on Dec. 11.
Barnhill learned that Kathleen Gagliotti, 23, of Franklin, entered into another person’s home on Dec. 10 and conspired with 31-year-old Cole Borgia, also of Franklin, via text messages to steal a blank check, the complaint said.
Gagliotti and Borgia prepared and signed the check in the amount of $70 as if it had been legally issued by the account’s owner, the complaint said.
They then cashed the check and used the money to purchase controlled substances, namely heroin, the complaint said.
On Dec. 11, Barnhill was sent to the 600 block of Liberty Street for a report of a stolen vehicle and interviewed Gagliotti, who had contacted police, the complaint said.
Gagliotti said she parked her vehicle the night before and left her keys in the car by accident, the complaint said.
The vehicle, which had a heavy odor of marijuana, was later recovered in Victory Township by Pennsylvania State Police after it slid off Route 8, the complaint said.
In a follow-up interview on Dec. 11, Gagliotti said she lied to officers about the vehicle and informed them she facilitated the purchase of a controlled substance for the purpose of personal use/distribution, the complaint said.
She said her drug dealer used the vehicle to travel to Youngstown, Ohio, to pick up heroin and Gagliotti would receive 1 gram of heroin in return, the complaint said.
Barnhill obtained a search warrant for Gagliotti’s cell phone records to access phone calls and text messages that had been deleted, the complaint said.
The records showed Gagliotti communicated with Borgia and another individual, the complaint said.
Borgia’s messages appear to be instructive on how to steal and how much to steal, the complaint said.
Gagliotti also threatened the second individual by demanding money or drugs or in retaliation she would contact police to report her vehicle stolen, the complaint said.
When Gagliotti did not receive money or heroin she reported the vehicle as stolen to law enforcement, the complaint said.
Gagliotti has been charged with felony counts of identify theft, criminal use of a communications facility and forgery, in addition to one count each of conspiracy – manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, theft by extortion, false report – falsely incriminating another, theft by unlawful taking, unsworn falsification to authorities and false reports – reported offense did not occur.
Borgia is facing felony counts of conspiracy – identify theft, criminal use of a communications facility and conspiracy – forgery, in addition to one count each of conspiracy – manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and conspiracy – theft by unlawful taking.
Gagliotti and Borgia were arraigned Friday and placed in the Venango County jail.
Gagliotti is being held on $15,000 bail, but Borgia’s bail was denied by District Judge Patrick Lowrey because Borgia has a history of noncompliance with bail conditions.
Preliminary hearings for both have been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Central Court.
