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Bethel Park councilman resigns while facing drug, fraud charges

By Cara Host for The Almanac writer@thealmanac.Net 2 min read

Brandon Colella

A Bethel Park councilman resigned Aug. 2 amid allegations that he defrauded a woman he was doing home improvement work for and dealt a prescription drug at a local restaurant.

Brandon Colella, 38, who represented the municipality’s second ward, now faces felony charges in two separate cases.

Jefferson Hills police on July 27 charged Colella with home improvement fraud, theft by deception, fraudulent business practices and bad checks after investigators said he agreed to replace 15 skylights and repair the roof of a woman’s Jefferson Hills home, but then never did the work.

The woman paid him $7,500 in April, but when he failed to show up to do the work after two months, she demanded a refund, police said. In mid-June, Colella offered to return $6,900 – he claimed $600 was deducted for a restocking fee – but the check bounced and she was unable to contact him, police said.

Bethel Park police also accused Colella of trading an Adderall prescription pill to a woman at a township restaurant in exchange for a mixed drink July 5. Police charged him on July 30 with delivery of a controlled substance.

Meanwhile, Kingswood Designs LLC of South Park filed a civil claim against Colella on Aug. 2 asking for $6,492 in payment. Details of the lawsuit were not immediately available.

Colella did not return a call seeking comment, but his attorney, John Biedrzycki, said in a statement that Colella is committed to his community and resigned his council seat so that the charges will not distract from the municipal council’s work.

A preliminary hearing on the fraud charges is scheduled for Aug. 8 before District Judge Beth Mills and the preliminary hearing on the drug charge is scheduled for Aug. 9 before District Judge Ronald Arnoni.

Colella is free on unsecured bond while he awaits his preliminary hearings.

Regional editor Mike Jones contributed to this story.

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