File Photo: Handcuffs © Big Stock Images.

Former westmoreland county employee charged in payroll theft investigation — File Photo: Handcuffs © Big Stock Images.

GREENSBURG, Pa. — A former director of the Westmoreland County Purchasing Department has been charged with theft and misapplication of entrusted property following allegations of unauthorized payroll adjustments, county detectives announced.

Kristopher Cardiff, of Trafford, is accused of directing an employee to manually alter payroll hours to inflate workdays for department staff, despite lacking authorization to do so. Investigators said Cardiff’s actions, which occurred between August 2023 and August 2024, resulted in nearly $10,000 in unapproved pay increases across the department, with Cardiff personally receiving close to $5,400.

The discrepancies were discovered in August 2024 when the county’s fiscal department noticed irregularities while preparing the 2025 budget. Detectives determined that the purchasing department had been entering a 7-hour workday into payroll records, contrary to the standard 6.5-hour workday, which includes a one-hour unpaid lunch break.

Detectives found that Cardiff had submitted a proposal in July 2023 to shorten the lunch break and increase work hours to 7 per day, but the request was rejected by the salary board. Despite this, Cardiff allegedly instructed staff to continue entering the inflated hours, citing false claims of approval.

In total, Cardiff and five other employees benefited from the adjustments, with one other employee receiving more than $3,600. The employee responsible for entering the hours told investigators she acted under Cardiff’s direction and believed the changes had been approved after a two-week work study.

Detectives said Cardiff acknowledged in email communications with Human Resources that his request for the increased pay was not authorized.

The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of payroll practices within the county government.

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