Hellertown Woman Found Guilty of Stealing from Estate Sale Clients

A 51-year-old Hellertown woman was found guilty of 26 counts of deceptive business practices and theft last week following a four-day bench trial before Judge Brian Panella in the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.

According to a news release from the county district attorney’s office, Amy Lynn Richline was convicted of 13 counts of deceptive business practices and 13 counts of theft by unlawful taking for illegal conduct in which she engaged while working at her former business Top Notch Estate Sales.

“Victims were prohibited from attending the estate sale and did not receive an itemized list from Richline,” the release said. “Following the sale, they were issued an invoice and anticipated payment within 15 business days, as specified in a contract signed prior to the sale. When the 15-day period elapsed without a check being received, victims would reach out to inquire about the check’s status, often receiving various excuses regarding its whereabouts and the delay in payment.”

The district attorney said that “ultimately all victims lost contact with Richline and never received their funds, totaling over $35,000.”

Richline was charged with defrauding her clients in June 2023 following an investigation that began when a report was filed with Bethlehem Township Police, but her victims included “multiple individuals in the Lehigh Valley” according to the release.

Following last week’s guilty verdict, she was taken into custody and remanded to Northampton County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $75,000 bail. According to court documents, she is scheduled to be sentenced by Panella on July 16 at 8:45 a.m.