Baldwin Couple Charged In Alleged Facebook Fraud Scheme

BALDWIN, PA – A Baldwin couple allegedly used a phony Facebook account to bilk a Colorado volunteer veterans group counselor out of nearly $15,000, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.

Matthew Jankowski, 25, and Kelly Nort, 40, of Evelyn Road were arraigned Thursday on one count each of theft and conspiracy in connection with the alleged scheme. They were taken to the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, in 2014 the couple established a fake Facebook profile for Jayke James, supposedly a former Pittsburgh firefighter depressed over financial difficulties and serious health problems.

The victim, who counsels troubled veterans, was told by a woman who had come to a veterans organization for counseling that she was suicidal. During their conversation, the woman told the counselor she knew the fictitious James and believed he also might be considering suicide, the affidavit states.

The victim befriended James on Facebook in August 2014 and for more than two years sent cash and gift cards, gave gifts, and paid the utility bills of someone she believed was a disabled Pittsburgh firefighter.

The victim also replenished grocery store gift cards she believed were paying for medication that James needed. Investigators found the gift cards actually were used to purchase health and beauty aids, cigarettes, gasoline and groceries.

During this time, she never met James or his equally nonexistent son for whom she also provided gifts. She traded thousands of text messages with James to a number investigators found actually belonged to Nort.

The victim inadvertently helped to end the alleged scheme by creating a "Prayers for Jake" Facebook page soliciting donations for the nonexistent disabled firefighter. Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones became aware of the page and appeared on a TV newscast denouncing it as a scam.

That page had Jankowski’s picture on it, investigators said.

A preliminary hearing Jankowski and Nort is scheduled for Dec. 21 before District Judge Ralph Kaiser.

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