PA man accused of stealing $85K from payroll system at Westmoreland County business
LOWBER, PA – A former employee of a Lowber-based company is accused of quietly siphoning over $85,000 through unauthorized payroll transactions over the course of nearly three years, according to charges filed by Westmoreland County detectives.
Joseph Gilkey, 29, of Mount Pleasant, is facing felony charges after investigators say he exploited access to Basic Carbide’s internal payroll system to manipulate his compensation. The alleged theft was discovered in June when the company flagged suspicious overtime payments.
Initial findings revealed Gilkey had collected nearly $33,000 in unauthorized overtime pay in June 2024 alone. A deeper audit of payroll records reportedly uncovered a pattern of fraudulent activity dating back to 2022, with total losses exceeding $85,300.
Gilkey, who has since resigned from the company, was charged with theft, unlawful use of a computer, and receiving stolen property. He was arraigned and released, with a court appearance scheduled for later this month.
Detectives did not say whether Gilkey acted alone or if internal controls had failed to detect the ongoing payroll abuse earlier. No other employees are currently charged in connection to the scheme.
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The investigation was led by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office following a referral from the company’s management.
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Key Points
- Joseph Gilkey is accused of stealing more than $85,000 in payroll funds from Basic Carbide
- The theft allegedly occurred between 2022 and 2025 and involved unauthorized overtime entries
- Gilkey faces multiple felony charges and is due in court later this month