Cops: Contractor used Trafford man’s credit card for $4,500 in personal purchases

Paul Peirce | Tuesday, July 23, 2019 11:47 a.m.

A contractor hired to complete home improvements to two rental properties owned by a Trafford man is accused by police of accepting a $1,000 down payment plus making $4,547 in unauthorized charges on a credit account without making any repairs.

Charles W. Murphy, 45, of Plum, was charged by Trafford police with theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and counterfeiting in connection with the thefts that allegedly took place between June 17 and July 7.

Patrolman Richard Adams reported the property owner, Konstantinos Koromvokis, told police he contracted Murphy to complete improvements to houses in Tarentum and Turtle Creek and gave him access to a credit account “with explicit instruction that it only be used to purchase materials.”

According to court documents, Koromvokis told police he discovered July 8 that Murphy had made multiple “unauthorized” purchases on the account for personal pharmacy bills, gas and fast food totalling more than $4,120 and another $628 at an area Home Depot for gift cards and personal tools.

Koromvokis told Adams that Murphy initially denied using the account, but “eventually sent Koromvokis a text message admitting to making the unauthorized purchases.”

Murphy could not be reached for comment. An attorney was not listed in court documents.

Murphy’s preliminary hearing is scheduled July 30 before Harrison City District Judge Helen Kistler.