Former Apartment Manager Charged With Forgery

The former building manager of a Bethlehem apartment complex was charged with felony forgery for allegedly falsifying a receipt to show that she had provided a tenant’s rent to the building’s owner when it is alleged she had not, according to court records.

The charge against Ines Laracuente has its roots in October 2010 while she was managing the at 238 W. Goepp St. on behalf of Brookside Commercial Construction Co., a development company owned by Abraham Atiyeh.

According to the charges filed by Bethlehem police:

• Part of Laracuente’s job as building manager was to take rent paid by apartment tenants to Brookside’s office in Whitehall Township. When she did that, she got a signed receipt from the Brookside office manager, Gloria Searfoss.
• In October 2010, Brookside office records indicated one tenant had not paid two months rent – $785 for each month. Laracuente provided the office with receipt copies – with Searfoss’s signature – in an effort to show that the rent had been paid.
• But, according to Brookside attorney, Mickey Thompson, the signature appears to have been photocopied onto the receipt. Searfoss said she never signed the receipt or received the money. Laracuente told police that Searfoss did sign the receipt but does not remember.

Laracuente, 46, formerly of Bethlehem, but who now lives in Celebration, Fla., was arraigned on Friday before and released on unsecured bail.