Secane man pleads guilty to $102G theft

MEDIA COURTHOUSE – A Secane man was sentenced to time served to 23 months in jail after pleading to theft and conspiracy charges related to a $102,000 fraud scheme.

Eric Stankiewicz, 35, was also given five years of probation for his role in stealing from a Clifton Heights industrial equipment supplier through fraudulent credit card transactions. Co-defendant Dory Sater, 45, of Drexel Hill, is scheduled for a Dec. 2 motions hearing.

According to affidavits of probable cause, the Clifton Heights Police Department received a theft report from CAPP/USA April 1. Clifton Heights Police Sgt. Stephen Brown and county Criminal Investigation Division Detective Edward Silberstein found that Stankiewicz, a long-time employee of the company, had generated unauthorized sales receipts, purchase orders, and credit card payments.

After creating the fraudulent purchase orders, Stankiewicz made 31 fraudulent payments using CAPP/USA credit cards through online credit card processing systems Square Inc. and PayPal to two companies: Esquire Specialty Parts Sales Company in New Jersey and Rhoads Vintage in Norwood.

Esquire, which was owned by Sater, allegedly received 27 of the fraudulent payments totaling $95,591. Four other payments totaling $6,426 went to Rhoads Vintage, which was owned by Stankiewicz’s aunt, according to the affidavits.

The Rhoads Vintage owner told investigators that Stankiewicz had used the company’s PayPal system to sell items and to receive $6,426 from CAPP/USA for his own benefit. She said Stankiewicz told her he had made “a big mistake” and did not have the money to pay her back, according to the affidavits. Detectives also determined that Sater transferred $40,000 from a Square Inc. account he controlled to one controlled by Stankiewicz, according to the affidavits.

The total amount of loss attributable is $102,017.57, which will be paid joint and several by both defendants under the negotiated guilty plea worked out by Deputy District Attorney Douglas Rhodes and defense counsel Robert Keller. Rhodes indicated $5,000 would go to CAPP/USA and the remainder would be paid to the company’s insurance carrier.

Court of Common Pleas Judge Margaret Amoroso questioned Stankiewicz’s ability to pay restitution and worried he may come back before the court in five years petitioning to be released from probation with some debt remaining.

Keller told Amoroso that his client is accepting full responsibility, is college educated and has a lot of potential. He said Stankiwicz lost a brother and his life “spiraled out of control.”

Stankiewicz acknowledged the sum owed is “astronomical,” but said he intends to do whatever he can to meet his obligations and would abide by the recommendations of a drug and alcohol evaluation.

“I know I need help and I know I made a mistake,” he said. “I plan to try to rectify it the best I can.”

Sater, an attorney whose license to practice law was suspended in October 2018, was convicted in federal court in November 2020 on bank fraud and aggravated identity theft offenses. He has been denied motions for a new trial and acquittal, and faces up to 32 years in prison in that case. Sater remains in custody pending 10% of $200,000 bail.