EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - A third suspect has been accused of defrauding Norfolk Southern out of money intended for victims of the East Palestine Train Derailment, allegedly stealing over $24,000 from the company.

According to court records, 39-year-old Lauren Fegert of East Palestine was arraigned on charges of Theft and Falsification on Tuesday, October 24. 

According to a criminal complaint, while Fegert does reside in East Palestine, she had allegedly provided Norfolk Southern with fictitious hotel receipts along with food and fuel receipts when in reality, she was not relocated.

The complaint alleges that this conduct occurred on four separate occasions between April and June with Fegert allegedly defrauding Norfolk Southern out of a total of $24,026.68. 

Fegert is not the only person accused of defrauding Norfolk Southern though.

Two other suspects including 26-year-old Benjamin White of Girard and 41-year-old Melissa Blake of Negley were also accused of providing false addresses and hotel receipts to defraud Norfolk Southern out of money.

In Blake's case, she even did an interview with Cleveland Magazine allegedly telling a fabricated story about how she had just moved to East Palestine the night before the derailment, later admitting to police she made the story up according to a criminal complaint against her.

Fegert is due back in court on November 6 for a preliminary hearing. 

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