Mail fraud indictment



Mail fraud indictment
PITTSBURGH -- John L. McDonald, 60, of Fredonia Road, Hadley, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of mail fraud and making false statements to obtain workers' compensation benefits.
The 22-count indictment was handed down Thursday.
According to the indictment, McDonald was a letter carrier employed by the U.S. Postal Service. He is accused of making false statements in an effort to improperly get about $17,800 in workers' compensation benefits.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Work on I-79, I-80
MERCER, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is installing raised pavement markers on sections of Interstate Routes 79 and 80 next week and has warned the work could slow traffic.
Raised pavement markers are installed on the centerline of the roadway and serve as reflectors to aid drivers' vision at night.
The markers will be installed in both the east- and westbound lanes of I-80 between Mercer and the Ohio line and from the Venango County line to Clintonville.
Only the northbound lanes of I-79 between I-80 and U.S. Route 62 will be affected.
Stoneboro Fair money
STONEBORO, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Program has awarded $3,250 to The Stoneboro Fair.
The money will help pave the fairground road from the office to the main gate.
Vehicles vandalized
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle said someone broke the windshields of several vehicles parked at Troccis Auto Sales at Centre Avenue and 14th Street in Taylor Township sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Police said damage totaled about $1,000.
Police are asking anyone with information to call (724) 598-2211.
New Castle robbery
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City police said two men robbed an area couple at gunpoint at a Ray Street apartment.
Police said the woman told them she and her boyfriend were sitting in their living room Thursday night when they heard the door open. The woman told police the men, who were wearing masks, pointed guns at them and told them to give them everything they had. After taking $30, the men fled and the couple ran down the stairs after them, police said.
Police said the suspects then fired three shots into the air.
Woman arrested
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said they arrested Maria A. Alfredo, 20, of Seventh Street, Sharpsville, on charges of theft, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance. Alfredo is accused of stealing the prescription pain killer Vicodin on July 4 from the purse of another employee of a downtown store where they worked. Alfredo was arrested at the police station around 11:40 a.m. Thursday and arraigned before District Justice James McMahon, who freed her on her own recognizance.
Arrested in break-ins
MILTON TOWNSHIP -- Police have arrested a North Jackson teen and accused him of participating in three break-ins here. Juan Rosario, 18, of Gladstone Road, was arraigned Thursday on three felony counts of breaking and entering, a felony count of complicity to breaking and entering, a felony count of grand theft, a misdemeanor count of theft and a misdemeanor count of failure to appear on a subpoena. Police said they subpoenaed Rosario to question him about recent break-ins at a barber shop, a home and a car dealership in Milton Township. He failed to appear for questioning, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Molotov cocktails found
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two Molotov cocktails -- 12-ounce beer bottles filled with gasoline and rags for a fuse -- were found Thursday night at a house in the 1400 block of Lansdowne Boulevard. The residents heard breaking glass in the driveway and then found that one of the incendiary devices had been thrown at a 2000 Oldsmobile. The second landed in weeds near the car. No fires resulted, but the car's windshield was shattered and there were dents and scratches in the hood and right fender, reports show. Police have a suspect in mind.
LTV break-in
YOUNGSTOWN -- A tire iron was probably used to break a window at LTV Steel Co., tubular division, at 1315 Albert St. around 2:10 a.m. today. Police spread out around the building but found no suspect. Nothing appeared to be missing, but police saw that in one room a computer monitor and printer had been dropped on the floor.