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Read Full BioA caregiver in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, has been arrested on 1,030 counts related to stealing client funds to fuel her gambling habit. Dottie Kay Brenneman was placed in prison on the charges after being unable to post her $50,000 bail.
Brenneman is accused of using her visually impaired client’s bank account to siphon funds between November 2024 and July 1, 2025. In total, she allegedly racked up $7,713.25 in debt using the victim’s bank account information.
The 38-year-old claims she has a gambling addiction, which led to the losses spiraling out of control. According to the local news network, WTAJ, she told police that she initially took $50 from the victim and intended to pay it back with her winnings.
She faces 513 counts of theft, as well as more than 500 counts of access device fraud, along with forgery, financial exploitation of a care-dependent person, theft by deception, and criminal use of a communications facility.
From Losing Bets to Spiraling Debts
Investigators did not reveal the type of bets placed by Brenneman, but as she lost money, she gradually took more and more from her client’s bank account. As the victim was visually impaired, Brenneman had assisted in setting up the account, allowing her to view the account details.
Bank statements revealed payments to online gambling platforms, which the victim flagged as suspicious. Warrants sent to two different betting sites showed hundreds of attempted deposits, with some approved and some denied.
In addition to directly depositing funds into gambling accounts, the 38-year-old also took out a payday loan using her victim’s bank details, leading to increased debts.
Brenneman admitted her theft and reportedly sent a family member to the victim’s home to apologize and offer to pay back some of the money. Law enforcement, however, requested that she come to the Tyrone Police Department to speak about the incident, which she agreed to. According to police, she arrived that day with $500 she intended to return to the victim.
As she was unable to post bail, Brenneman is being held in Blair County Prison with a preliminary hearing set for February 3. Brenneman has a history of crime. Three years ago, she was arrested on drug charges, admitting to arranging heroin purchases with people in Tyrone.
Other Gambling-Fueled Theft Cases
In another similar case, a New Yorker was jailed for stealing funds from the Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Company to fuel his gambling habit. James Hoffman, 42, received an indeterminate sentence of two to six years in prison last year for the theft.
In Pennsylvania, Pamela Hackenburg, 64, of Gregg Township in Centre County, was sentenced to two to four years in state prison for embezzling over $532,000 in public funds to support her gambling habit.
