HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA — Lower Moreland Township Police Department has arrested two individuals accused of attempting to cash fraudulent gambling machine tickets at a Sunoco station. The suspects, identified as 38-year-old Christopher Anselmi and 27-year-old Cayla Smith, were apprehended on February 6, 2024, around 9:24 p.m.
The police were alerted to the alleged scheme by a caller who reported that the pair was trying to cash tickets with inflated values at the Sunoco location on 2883 Philmont Avenue. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the duo had been allegedly involved in a similar incident a few days prior.
According to the complainant, Smith would enter the store, seemingly insert money into the Skills Machine, quickly leave, only to return shortly to cash in her ticket. After repeated instances of this behavior, the complainant checked the machine’s balances, noticing a discrepancy between the money paid out and the machine’s recorded balances.
The alleged scheme involved placing a small amount of money into the machine, cashing out a ticket for that amount, leaving the store, and returning with a counterfeit ticket showing the same ticket number but a higher value. The pair would then allegedly cash the fraudulent ticket and obtain the increased dollar amount.
Upon their arrest, both Anselmi and Smith were charged with two counts of access device is counterfeit altered incomplete, two counts of forgery, two counts of theft by deception-false impression, one count of receiving stolen property. Anselmi was additionally charged with one count of intentional possession of a controlled substance.
It is important to note that these are allegations, and both Anselmi and Smith are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. As the investigation continues, more details may emerge that could alter the current understanding of the case.
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