Stealing from Girl Scouts Lands Royersford Woman in State Prison

TREDYFFRIN, PA — A 45-year-old Royersford woman was sentenced Monday in the Chester County Justice Center to one to three years in state prison for using a stolen Girl Scout Troop debit card to pay her lawyer $525.

Shelly Gaugler was also ordered by Chester County Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft to serve four years of probation following her prison term.

Gaugler was convicted in absentia of using a Girl Scout Troop debit card in 2019 to charge $525 to a law firm in Pottstown to pay her bankruptcy attorney.

The defendant failed to appear for her scheduled trial after receiving notice to attend and she fled to Virginia.

Gaugler was convicted of identity theft, access device fraud, and receiving stolen property.

According to police:

• Tredyffrin police were notified on Oct. 25, 2019 by a victim that an unknown charge was made to a local Girl Scout Troop debit card.
• A subsequent investigation showed that the defendant stole the debit card information when the Girl Scout Troop purchased t-shirts from a store where she worked in Tredyffrin Township.

• Detectives learned that the defendant used the debit card to pay her bankruptcy attorney.

After the sentencing, District Attorney Deb Ryan said the defendant stole from an important nonprofit group that is dedicated to helping others.

“She violated their trust because of her greed,” Ryan said. "We thank the Tredyffrin township police for securing justice for the girls in this troop.”