Judge raises woman’s bond; Department of Revenue revelation complicates case

A North Franklin Township resident charged just before Christmas 2014 with more than 100 counts of theft, theft by deception, tampering with records, unlawful use of a computer, forgery and failure to make required disposition of funds appears to be in deeper trouble.
Carrie Ann Ammons-Daviduk, 39, of 1285 Overlook Drive, was accused of stealing $209,471 from Valley Bulk Transport Inc., 919 Western Ave., which handles bulk deliveries, while working as controller of payroll for the company.
Ammons-Daviduk was free on $50,000 unsecured bond when she was scheduled to appear last week in Washington County Court before Judge John DiSalle for a possible guilty plea.
The prosecution, however, presented testimony dealing with a bizarre chain of events that is now being investigated by the state Department of Revenue.
According to Assistant District Attorney John Friedmann, Ammons-Daviduk was an employee of Valley Bulk, and she would have received a W-2 form reflecting her pay and deductions.
But as part of the alleged theft scheme, Friedmann said she also placed herself on the payroll as an independent contractor, known for Internal Revenue Service purposes as a “1099” who is subject to self-employment tax.
Friedmann said according to information unearthed by Chartiers Township police Sgt. Michael Filosi, Ammons-Daviduk wrote to the Department of Revenue and said Valley Bulk paid taxes associated with her independent contractor status.
In what appeared to be an attempt to bolster her case, Ammons-Daviduk allegedly wrote a letter “corroborating” this information on Valley Bulk letterhead that was purportedly signed by John Washabaugh, owner of Valley Bulk. The letter contained a phone number, allegedly for Washabaugh, but it actually Ammons-Daviduk’s cellphone number, according to investigators.
The alleged scheme came to light “Dec. 30 in court,” Friedmann said Monday. “John Washabaugh testified Ms. Ammons was never an independent contractor. She was an employee for whom taxes and required contributions would have been withheld, and she would have received a W-2.
“Mr. Washabaugh also testified Dec. 30 he had never sent that letter, he never authorized anyone to send such a letter because it wasn’t true, and he asked for a copy of that letter.”
Additionally, “An agent from the Department of Revenue called the number, asked to speak to Mr. Washabaugh, and a female answered,” Friedmann said.
DiSalle found that the evidence presented Dec. 30 showed Ammons-Daviduk had violated the conditions of her bail.
Through her lawyer, Michael V. Worgul, she asked that she be placed on house arrest or something short of jail for the infraction.
Friedmann disagreed, arguing that because Ammons-Daviduk was out on bail when the scheme unfolded, allowing her to remain free “was not necessarily going to stop this from happening,” and he asked that her bail be revoked.
DiSalle increased Ammons-Daviduk’s bond to $225,000 cash. She reported to Washington County jail, but she was able to post bond through a bail agency and was released on New Year’s Eve.
“We are no closer now to restitution than we were six months ago,” Friedmann said Monday.
A spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue offered no insight into the case.
“Taxpayer confidentiality precludes us from discussing any information relating to a specific taxpayer and/or investigations being conducted by the department,” wrote Maia Warren, information specialist, in an email.