Five individuals from multiple states are facing criminal charges after Pennsylvania State Police say they participated in a puppy sale scam that targeted a York County woman.
Authorities charged Kierra Mitchell, 32; Maneth Doue, 23; Deneja Condley, 24; Jansenique Haynes, 22; and Ashauny Jackson, 27, each with misdemeanor theft by deception. The charges stem from an investigation into an alleged online scam involving the sale of a shih tzu puppy in December 2023.
According to charging documents, the Lower Chanceford Township woman believed she was purchasing a puppy and arranging for its delivery. Over the course of several transactions, investigators say she sent a total of $2,800 through the Zelle digital payment service.
The transaction began when the woman agreed to buy the puppy for $450 from a person claiming to be a breeder named Michelle Hodson. She sent two payments for the dog early in the month. However, police allege the funds were deposited into a bank account belonging to Mitchell, who resides in Warner Robins, Georgia.
The woman was later told the payments had not gone through and was instructed to send additional payments to other individuals. Investigators traced those payments to bank accounts held by Condley in Lafayette, Indiana, and Haynes in the Toledo, Ohio, area.
Days later, the woman received emails allegedly from a company called United Global Logistics requesting additional payments for customs fees, special crating, and delivery insurance. Despite being told the puppy would arrive by Dec. 7, no delivery ever occurred.
Police say the customs payment was linked to an account connected to Jackson of suburban Chicago. Additional fees for crating, insurance, and puppy care were sent to other accounts tied to individuals not yet charged.
On Christmas Eve 2023, the woman received another request for a “custom declaration fee.” She sent $300, which investigators traced to a bank account allegedly associated with Doue of Baltimore.
Authorities linked the defendants through banking records and personal and online identifiers. While charges were filed on Dec. 11, none of the defendants have been taken into custody or arraigned in York County. The York County Sheriff’s Office has active warrants for all five individuals.
