District Attorney Jim Martin recently announced a former City of Allentown employee has been charged in connection with an alleged theft.

Jenny Scala, 48, of 435 St. John St., Catasauqua, has been charged with one count each of theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property, both misdemeanors of the first degree.

Scala turned herself in and was arraigned through Central Booking by Magisterial District Judge Karen Devine and released on unsecured bail.

According to Martin, Scala had been an employee of the City of Allentown in the human resources department, where she worked as a benefits manager. She is no longer employed by the city.

On Jan. 12, Capt. William Lake, of Allentown Police Department, received information about an audit of petty cash and other assets owned by the City of Allentown, which had been conducted in December 2017. This audit included accounting for gift cards, which were kept within the human resources department. The gift cards are part of a wellness incentive program and are occasionally issued to city employees. The audit revealed a shortage of some of the gift cards.

Lake began an investigation, during the course of which it was determined the missing cards - with an aggregate value of $1,000 - had been assigned to an online account held in the name of “Jenny Scala.” As a result of the investigation, it is alleged the defendant misappropriated the missing gift cards.