Police say a manager at a senior apartment building devised and executed a plan to steal nearly $50,000 of taxpayer money by using her niece’s identity to collect fraudulent paychecks over two years. Heather Dietz, 37, was in charge of human resources at Kane Glen Hazel, a county-run senior apartment building. Investigators allege she fraudulently received two paychecks and ran the scam through the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union. According to court documents, Dietz’s niece interned at the building for two months in 2023 before heading to college, but investigators say Dietz kept her on the payroll for years and pocketed the cash.Court papers reveal Dietz had a bank account at the police credit union on Chartiers Avenue in both her name and her niece’s, allowing her access to the money. Investigators say Dietz was captured on video inside the credit union forging her niece’s signature to endorse payroll checks and used a debit card to access the funds.According to authorities, she used the money to pay her car payment and student loans until they were tipped off to the scam.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Marcie Cipriani went to her Baldwin home to ask about the allegations. Though she didn’t answer the door, police say she admitted to the crime and told investigators her niece had no idea she was using her name to carry it out.Dietz is charged with a list of crimes, including forgery, identity theft, and receiving stolen property. She is scheduled to face a judge next week.

PITTSBURGH —

Police say a manager at a senior apartment building devised and executed a plan to steal nearly $50,000 of taxpayer money by using her niece’s identity to collect fraudulent paychecks over two years.

Heather Dietz, 37, was in charge of human resources at Kane Glen Hazel, a county-run senior apartment building.

Investigators allege she fraudulently received two paychecks and ran the scam through the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union.

According to court documents, Dietz’s niece interned at the building for two months in 2023 before heading to college, but investigators say Dietz kept her on the payroll for years and pocketed the cash.

Court papers reveal Dietz had a bank account at the police credit union on Chartiers Avenue in both her name and her niece’s, allowing her access to the money.

Investigators say Dietz was captured on video inside the credit union forging her niece’s signature to endorse payroll checks and used a debit card to access the funds.

According to authorities, she used the money to pay her car payment and student loans until they were tipped off to the scam.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Marcie Cipriani went to her Baldwin home to ask about the allegations.

Though she didn’t answer the door, police say she admitted to the crime and told investigators her niece had no idea she was using her name to carry it out.

Dietz is charged with a list of crimes, including forgery, identity theft, and receiving stolen property. She is scheduled to face a judge next week.