An employee of the Department of Public Welfare has surrendered to Bucks County Detectives in connection to a theft of over $130,000.00 from a resident she encountered while working as a Norristown State Hospital employee.

Bridget Nicole Compton, 51, of Philadelphia, has been charged with Access Device Fraud, Identity Theft, Forgery, and related offenses after detectives established that she unlawfully diverted five (5) checks from the victim’s account to herself over the course of two months, totaling $132,480.01.

The investigation began in November 2024 when the theft was reported to authorities by an interested third party.  Detectives quickly determined that each of the checks were endorsed by the defendant and subsequently cashed through Cottman Check Cashing in Philadelphia.  

Investigators reviewed correspondence between Compton and the victim and found no indication that the defendant was authorized to make financial transactions on the victim’s behalf.

In speaking with the victim, detectives learned that Compton’s assistance was requested with an address change on the account so that the victim could continue to receive account-related mail correspondence, but the defendant was never authorized to transfer any funds from the account.

During an interview with the defendant, Compton acknowledged to detectives that she impersonated the victim in phone calls to the financial institution, authorizing checks to be sent to the address of Compton’s mother, from which she would retrieve and liquidate them at the Philadelphia check cashing business.  

Compton reported that she has since disposed of all the funds, namely through a $10,000.00 gift to her mother and a family vacation to Puerto Rico in July 2023, telling detectives “I got the money in July and was broke by Christmas…. that’s how quick it went.” 

This investigation, which remains ongoing, is being conducted by investigators from the Bucks County Detectives in partnership with the Montgomery County Detective Bureau.   Bucks County Deputy District Attorneys Brittney Kern and John Fegley are assigned for prosecution. 

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Media Contact:  Steve Doerner, Chief Administrator, sdoerner@buckscounty.org