A Westmoreland County man who was sentenced to probation in 2023 for posing as a wealthy homebuyer is behind bars after state police said he used a check fraud scheme in an effort to get $401,000 worth of vehicles and equipment from local dealerships.
Timothy Paul Bierly, 30, was arrested last month as he tried to buy a $60,000 Chevrolet Tahoe at a Hempfield Township dealership, according to court papers.
Troopers said they investigated reports involving Bierly at 14 dealerships. He was arraigned Wednesday on charges of corrupt organizations, theft, deceptive business practices and related offenses. Bail was denied.
Bierly listed addresses in New Kensington and Florida in court records, and previously lived in Washington Township.
He is accused of using personal and business checks reportedly from Ironopps LLC to buy vehicles from dealers in East Huntingdon, Unity, North Apollo, New Kensington, Springdale, Murrysville, Monroeville and Vandergrift, among others, between December and April.
One of those fraudulent purchases was for a Chevrolet Silverado for $81,750. It later was traded in for $64,000, according to court papers.
Bierly claimed to be the owner of Ironopps, but police said it wasn’t tied to any legitimate business operations. Ironopps was registered with Pennsylvania in 2024, according to Department of State records.
Troopers were staged nearby April 22 when Bierly started to write a check to buy the Chevrolet Tahoe for $60,000, according to court papers. Police said they found the GMC Sierra Denali he drove to the sale had been purchased for $73,500 from a Butler County dealer using a fraudulent check.
During the investigation, troopers learned Bierly used fraudulent checks at six other dealers, but he returned the vehicles to them and police weren’t called, according to court papers.
Bierly faces a May 20 preliminary hearing. He was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. An attorney listed for him could not be reached.
He was sentenced in 2023 to two years of probation in Allegheny County Court in connection with a scam that authorities said sought to get ownership of a Richland estate and other property for $5.1 million.
Northern Regional police arrested Bierly after the Richland family reported he visited their North Montour Road home that was up for sale. After the tour, a contract was submitted for Bierly to buy the house, additional land and some of their other possessions for $5.1 million, according to court papers.
The family grew suspicious after the closing date was delayed and reported the situation to police.
Bierly pleaded guilty to attempted theft, forgery and unlawful use of a computer, according to court records.