CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN THEIR COMMUNITY. COURT DOCUMENTS REVEAL TERRY LAWSON USED THE RANKIN BOROUGH CREDIT CARD AT RESTAURANTS, LIQUOR STORES AND DOZENS OF RETAILERS. ALL OF THOSE PURCHASES ARE LISTED IN THESE CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR HANDS ON. FORMER RANKIN BOROUGH MANAGER TERRY LAWSON IS ACCUSED OF USING A BOROUGH ISSUED CREDIT CARD FOR NEARLY $10,000 IN PERSONAL PURCHASES. I AM HARD PRESSED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN SOMEBODY MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR OBTAINED BOROUGH CREDIT CARD BILLS AND STATEMENTS FOR PURCHASES MADE BY LAWSON IN 2025. THE DOCUMENT, PROVIDED BY RANKIN, LISTS DOZENS OF PURCHASES FROM RETAIL STORES, INCLUDING GIANT EAGLE, LOWE’S, DICK’S SPORTING GOODS AND FREE PEOPLE MOVEMENT. THE CARDS WERE ALSO USED REPEATEDLY FOR FOOD AND DRINKS AT PLACES LIKE CHICK FIL A, GOODFELLA’S RESTAURANT, AND WINES AND SPIRITS, AN EYELASH BOUTIQUE. DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY AND AMC WERE AMONG THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PLACES WHERE THE CARD WAS USED. THERE’S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY AND TIME TO EXPLAIN THROUGH CROSS-EXAMINATION OF THE WORKINGS OF RANKIN BOROUGH AND A CARD THAT WAS ISSUED WITH HER NAME ON IT, BY THE WAY. AND THAT WAS UTILIZED. WE PUT A LOT OF TRUST IN THE PEOPLE THAT MANAGE OUR BOROUGHS. YOU KNOW, BUT AS A COUNCIL, IT IS OUR JOB TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THAT. BRADDOCK HILLS COUNCIL PRESIDENT CASSIE SCHAFER IS AMONG THOSE WHO BELIEVE LAWSON SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE WOODLAND HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR HER ALLEGED ACTIONS AT RANKIN. THE BOARD NEEDS TO REMOVE HER AS PRESIDENT, REMOVE HER FROM THE BOARD. SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDS TO FILL THAT SEAT. OTHERS FEEL DIFFERENTLY. YEAH, I THINK SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD HER POSITION UNTIL SHE’S FOUND GUILTY. RANKIN. MAYOR JALISA MCDONALD ACKNOWLEDGED THE CRIMINAL CHARGES IN A STATEMENT, SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, MY PRIORITY REMAINS THE STABILITY AND INTEGRITY OF BOROUGH OPERATIONS AND MAINTAINING THE PUBLIC’S TRUST. I’M COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURING THAT APPROPRIATE SAFEGUARDS AND OVERSIGHT CONTINUE TO PROTECT PUBLIC RESOURCES. ACCORDING TO A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT, LAWSON STILL OWES NEARLY $5,000. WE BELIEVE AT THIS JUNCTURE THAT MONEY IS ACTUALLY OWED TO HER FOR THINGS THAT SHE HAD PURCHASED ON BEHALF OF THE BOROUGH. THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS IT’S TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THIS MATTER IS PROPER
Ex-Rankin Borough manager’s purchases detailed in months of credit card statements
Updated: 11:32 PM EST Feb 13, 2026
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Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 obtained borough credit card bills and statements for purchases made by the former borough manager of Rankin. Terri Lawson, who currently serves as the Woodland Hills School Board president, was charged this week for allegedly using a borough-issued credit card for nearly $10,000 of personal purchases. Lawson was terminated from her position at Rankin Borough in December 2025, the mayor of Rankin confirmed at the time. A document provided by Rankin Borough via a Right-to-Know request lists dozens of purchases made by Lawson in 2025 from retail stores, including Giant Eagle, Lowe’s, Amazon, Tradehome Shoes, FP Movement, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Michaels, Sherwin-Williams, TJ Maxx, Sam’s Club, Target and Big Lots. According to the statements, the cards were also used repeatedly for food and drinks at places like Applebee’s, Chick-Fil-A, Goodfella’s Restaurant & Tavern, Condado Tacos, Texas Roadhouse, “Wine and Spirits,” Olive Garden, Dad’s Pub & Grub, Spigolo, Grandpa Joe’s Candy, Courtyard Winery, Salem’s Market and Grill, Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., Monterey Bay Fish Grotto and more. Various miscellaneous purchases were made at places like Duquesne Light Company, T-Mobile, gas stations, Black Bear Hemp Dispensary, AMC Waterfront 22, and an eyelash boutique, among others. “We put a lot of trust into the people that manage our boroughs. But as a council, it is our job to have oversight over that,” said Braddock Hills Borough Council President Cassi Schaffer. Schaffer is among those who believe Lawson should be held accountable by the school district for her alleged actions at Rankin. “The board needs to remove her as president, remove her from the board. Somebody else needs to fill that seat,” Schaffer told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa. Others felt different.”She’s not found guilty. Considering our circumstances and what the world is going on today,” said Churchill resident Tami Warfield. “I think she should be able to hold her position until she’s found guilty.” Rankin Mayor Joelisa McDonald acknowledged the criminal charges against Lawson in a statement. “My priority remains the stability and integrity of borough operations and maintaining the public’s trust. I’m committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that appropriate safeguards and oversight continue to protect public resources,” the mayor said in part. According to a criminal complaint, Lawson still owed nearly $5,000 of the nearly $10,000.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 obtained borough credit card bills and statements for purchases made by the former borough manager of Rankin.
Terri Lawson, who currently serves as the Woodland Hills School Board president, was charged this week for allegedly using a borough-issued credit card for nearly $10,000 of personal purchases.
Lawson was terminated from her position at Rankin Borough in December 2025, the mayor of Rankin confirmed at the time.
A document provided by Rankin Borough via a Right-to-Know request lists dozens of purchases made by Lawson in 2025 from retail stores, including Giant Eagle, Lowe’s, Amazon, Tradehome Shoes, FP Movement, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Michaels, Sherwin-Williams, TJ Maxx, Sam’s Club, Target and Big Lots.
According to the statements, the cards were also used repeatedly for food and drinks at places like Applebee’s, Chick-Fil-A, Goodfella’s Restaurant & Tavern, Condado Tacos, Texas Roadhouse, “Wine and Spirits,” Olive Garden, Dad’s Pub & Grub, Spigolo, Grandpa Joe’s Candy, Courtyard Winery, Salem’s Market and Grill, Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., Monterey Bay Fish Grotto and more.
Various miscellaneous purchases were made at places like Duquesne Light Company, T-Mobile, gas stations, Black Bear Hemp Dispensary, AMC Waterfront 22, and an eyelash boutique, among others.
“We put a lot of trust into the people that manage our boroughs. But as a council, it is our job to have oversight over that,” said Braddock Hills Borough Council President Cassi Schaffer.
Schaffer is among those who believe Lawson should be held accountable by the school district for her alleged actions at Rankin.
“The board needs to remove her as president, remove her from the board. Somebody else needs to fill that seat,” Schaffer told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa.
Others felt different.
“She’s not found guilty. Considering our circumstances and what the world is going on today,” said Churchill resident Tami Warfield. “I think she should be able to hold her position until she’s found guilty.”
Rankin Mayor Joelisa McDonald acknowledged the criminal charges against Lawson in a statement.
“My priority remains the stability and integrity of borough operations and maintaining the public’s trust. I’m committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that appropriate safeguards and oversight continue to protect public resources,” the mayor said in part.
According to a criminal complaint, Lawson still owed nearly $5,000 of the nearly $10,000.
date: 2026-02-14 04:43:00