Pair plea in embezzlement of youth football league funds in West Virginia

 A Bloomingrose couple pled in Boone County Circuit Court on Sept. 30 regarding a 14-month investigation into missing funds from the now defunct Seth Midget Football League.

Jeremy Johnson pled guilty to the misdemeanor offense of embezzlement and faces up to a year in jail.  Pamela Johnson pled guilty to the felony offense of embezzlement and faces not less than one nor more than 10 years in prison. They are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 13. Details regarding any agreement for repaying the stolen funds was not available.

Between June 2014 and July 2018, the couple served as president and treasurer for the Seth Midget Football League. During this time they had unfettered access to the finances of the organization. The league folded in June 2018.

Investigator Captain David Sutphin with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office was focused on specific areas including suspicious ATM withdraws, "cash back" after purchases of other items at multiple retailers and more than $1,100 spent in South Carolina while vacationing at Myrtle Beach, which came after a vacation to Disney in Florida. The suspicious transactions all took place using a debit card in the league's name. Sutphin said that he is pleased with the results of the court proceedings.

"I think a felony embezzlement on her and a misdemeanor embezzlement on him is a good outcome from everything I looked at in my investigation," he said. “I’m pleased with that result.”

Sutphin had given of his own money to the league and even helped arrange fundraising events including one in Madison where Mayor Sonny Howell and the city council gave full access of the Madison Civic Center to the league for a fundraising event. 

The Captain became suspicious of the league when he heard that their numbers were down and he knew that over 80 kids participated the season before. He also was given a tip from a concerned volunteer that things may not be as they seemed.

Sutphin said that the most painstaking aspect of the investigation was combing through the bank records of both the league and the Johnsons.

“It was the bank records,” he said. “I had to go through five years of complete records for the league and the Johnsons’ personal account,” he said. “Then, matching things that they said they bought with the associated receipts. That took the most time. I went through thousands of grocery receipts and had to determine what was used for personal use and what was used for the league. I used menus from the events matched up with the associated dates, which were provided by the public. I got subpoenas and search warrant for every store they purchased items at.”

The purchases were made with the league’s debit card for the account at Whitesville State Bank.

Sutphin’s report showed $14,594 in cash withdraws, $4,640 in cash-back transactions, $1,000 in checks made out to cash, $22,647.04 spent at Sam’s Club, $3,310.83 spent at Kroger, $2,702.38 spent at Wal Mart and $1,159.43 spent on a Myrtle Beach vacation. The couple spent $550.66 at Lowe’s and $225.45 at the Country Store in Seth.

A total of $25,588.52 in league money was deposited into the Johnson’s personal bank account.

Sutphin’s comprehensive investigation reveals that only $7,754.83 in receipts could be recovered from Sam’s Club and of those receipts a total of $860 came via cash-back transactions. The couple received $640 in club membership cash rewards.

Only $1,340.33 could be documented through receipts at Wal Mart while $400 was obtained in cash-back transactions at the retailer.

At Kroger, $644.25 in receipts were recovered with $200 in cash-back transactions documented.

Additionally, a significant amount of cash was not deposited during the 2017 calendar year making it impossible to document the total of monies taken during that time period.

Inwood woman accused of embezzling from South Berkeley Little League

 An Inwood, W.Va., woman accused of embezzling more than $5,000 from South Berkeley Little League over the course of several months allegedly told police that she needed the money because she was “down on her luck,” according to Berkeley County (W.Va.) Magistrate Court records.

Tabatha Chris Montanio, 37, of Lobo Lane was charged on one felony count of embezzlement, court records said.

She was released on a $10,000 bond, records said.

The embezzlement by the defendant, who was identified as the Little League committee’s treasurer, allegedly occurred between December 2017 and August, according to a complaint filed by West Virginia State Police Trooper G.W. Merkich III.

The transactions in question include several personal checks and cash withdrawals, including payments to Musselman Middle School Cheer Team, O’Roke Photo, FirstEnergy, Potomac Edison and “Fuzzy Tail,” court records said.

Memorandum entries list the defendant’s address, records said.

The total amount allegedly taken was $5,199.37, court records said.

The alleged embezzlement, which was reported to police in August, was discovered when the organization attempted to put a down payment on a suppression system for its concession stand required by the state fire marshal’s office.

When league officials provided debit-card information to the contractor, the organization discovered its account had insufficient funds, court records said. Little League officials told police that the funds only were to be used for the organization.

Organization officials also told police that Montanio passed a background check to be part of the committee, court records said.

When Montanio first was told about the Little League group’s claims, Merkich said the defendant didn’t say anything, then admitted she took the money from the organization, records said.

WVSP investigate embezzlement involving Boone County Schools

The West Virginia State Police (WVSP) are investigating an embezzlement case involving Boone County Schools.

State police were at the bus garage Wednesday, February 15 serving search warrants for financial records.

According to the WVSP the funds being investigated are within the transportation department of Boone County Schools. However, there is a local business and individuals allegedly involved in this case as well.

Sgt. Sutphin of the WVSP Madison Detachment said they received a tip and that is when they started pulling records through the companies and discovered some fraudulent transactions had taken place.

“When we started piecing it together it just came in a whirlwind,” said Sutphin.

According to Sgt. Sutphin this has probably been going on for about two years. As for the dollar amount the WVSP have not come up with a grand total at this time.

“Every day the totals are going up and down,” said Sutphin.

“It is a pretty complex investigation,” said Sutphin. “This basically involves a pretty large scale of converting transportation monies into a private business and also into personal purchases.”

The Boone County School system has been taking some hard hits financially in the last few years with their budget. There have been layoffs, pay cuts and school closures during this time and there is a possibility of more layoffs for the 2017-18 school year.

“The Boone County administration with the school board through the central office they have been nothing but supportive and nothing but helpful,” said Sutphin. “Mr. Huffman has done an outstanding job in assisting us. This is nothing they were aware of and has taken them by complete shock.”

Sutphin said Boone County School system is the victim of this.

WVSP have not released any names at this time. However, Sutphin said, “There is going to be multiple arrests made.”

At this time there is no timeline as to when these arrests will be made.

Girl Scout leaders accused of embezzlement appear in court in West Virginia

Two Parkersburg women accused of embezzling girl scout funds appeared in Wood County court Tuesday. Denise Davis and Mary Farnsworth were indicted for embezzlement and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The former troop leaders allegedly took a trip to Disney World, Sea World and an Everglades Cruise with the stolen money.

Tuesday a plea deal was to be entered by both defendants in which they agreed to pay back $2,500 with all charges dropped and no admission of guilt.

MariJo Tedesco, a former employee of the Black Diamond Council, took the stand to convince the judge to look at the case again and reconsider the plea deal.

"Not once has anyone expressed concern for the girls that were used for the profit of those that were supposed to protect and nurture them. Girl Scouts are supposed to empower girls and make responsible, honest and productive adults of the girls involved. What are we teaching the girls and society as a whole if people in positions of authority are allowed to abuse their privileges over the span of years and endure no consequence for it," says Tedesco.

Judge Beane agrees to look at the case again and will have both parties submit statements to probation and probation will submit a complete report to the judge. If the judge rejects it, defendants will have to enter a plea.

Martinsburg man sentenced in college embezzlement case

A Martinsburg man who police said admitted to embezzling from Valley College to pay restitution for a previous embezzlement conviction was sentenced after pleading guilty to one felony count of embezzlement in Berkeley County Circuit Court.

Bradley Scott Martin, 31, was sentenced by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge John C. Yoder to not less than one or more than 10 years in prison.

Martin also was ordered to pay more than $25,000 in restitution, with $20,842 to be paid to Valley College and $4,442 to Manpower in Martinsburg, Berkeley County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gregory K. Jones said.

The remaining 139 counts of forgery, uttering and fraudulent scheme in Martin's October 2015 indictment were dismissed as part of a binding plea agreement.

Authorities have alleged that Martin was working as a contract employee for the college when he altered multiple time slips, which resulted in him being overpaid by Manpower, court records said.

Police also alleged that Martin forged 60 checks identified by Valley College and uttered them, records said.

Police said Martin admitted to committing the embezzlement, indicating he was responsible for managing the accounts-payable accounts at Valley College, and had access to write the checks against the school's BB&T Bank account, records said.

The alleged offenses occurred between October 2012 and April 2013, court records said.

When questioned about the allegations, West Virginia State Police Sgt. J.M. Walker said Martin "stated he used the proceeds from the fraud to pay restitution to the court for a previous embezzlement conviction."

Before Thursday's hearing, Martin had been incarcerated due to a parole revocation connected to the previous embezzlement conviction.

Lewis County Booster Treasurer Appears in Court for Embezzling Over $9,000

A Lewis County man has pleaded guilty to embezzling money from Lewis County High School athletic boosters.

Christopher Burkhammer waived his plea hearing and admitted to an information charging him with embezzlement and forgery.

Prosecutors said Burkhammer stole over $9,000 from the Lewis County High School Track Team Boosters while he was serving as the treasurer. 

Burkhammer will be sentenced on April 5.

2 ex-Parkersburg, WV Girl Scout leaders face embezzlement charges

Two Parkersburg women have been indicted on charges that they used Girl Scout funds to take a trip to Florida.

Media outlets report a Wood County grand jury indicted Denise Davis and Mary Farnworth on Thursday on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Both are former troop leaders of the Girls Scouts of the Black Diamond Council. Council spokeswoman Jennifer Brown says Davis still works as the council's director of membership services.

Special prosecutor Joshua Downey says the women allegedly used $2,400 from cookie and yard sales to take their daughters and a friend to Sea World in 2011. Downey says the money came from outreach groups.

The Black Diamond Council serves most of West Virginia, along with some areas of Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.

Wellsburg woman pleads guilty to embezzlement

A Wellsburg woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a school service workers association.

Media outlets report that the felony charge will be reduced to misdemeanor petit larceny if 61-year-old Debra Baker completes a mental health court counseling program and doesn't commit any other crimes.

Baker pleaded guilty Monday in Brooke County Circuit Court. Judge Ronald Wilson told Baker that she faces one to 10 years in prison if she doesn't complete the counseling. If she completes the program, Wilson will rule that she has served her sentence.

Baker was accused of embezzling about $13,000 from the U.S. School Service Employees Association of West Virginia, which she served as a secretary.

4th of July Festival Fund embezzlement case

David Nurmi, a Chester man accused of stealing more than $2,000 from the city's 4th of July Festival fund, made a brief appearance in court Friday morning. Nurmie waived his right to a preliminary hearing, meaning this case will now go through circuit court. A closer look at the criminal complaint, though, reveals that the nine felony embezzlement charges against Nurmi stem from an investigation where Chester's mayor contacted state police regarding the alleged embezzlement. The complaint also indicates that Nurmi may have confessed his acts in a written statement to authorities, saying the money was taken from the account for personal use to satisfy debt that had been incurred by extended family members. Neither Nurmi or his defense attorney would not comment on that, or a conflicting report that it was all a miscommunication. In all, Nurmi is alleged to have taken $2,550 between June and November of last year. The alleged transactions happened on nine separate occasions from a community organization operating under the name City of Chester Centennial Committee. Nurmi's first appearance in circuit Court has not been set.

Woman Accused of Embezzlement Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Mental Health Program

A woman accused of embezzling money from the U.S. School Service Employees Association of West Virginia admitted taking $13,000 from the union in court on Monday.

Debra Baker's attorney reached a plea agreement with the state, saying if she entered a guilty plea and completed 24 months of a mental health program, her case will be dismissed.

During the hearing, Prosecutor Joe Barki went over the details of what Baker did while serving as secretary. "She began to abuse that position and write herself additional monthly stipend checks beyond what she was supposed to receive every month," he said.

If Baker does not successfully complete her time in the mental court program, her guilty plea to embezzlement will be accepted. Baker would then be sentenced to no less than one year and no more than 10 years in the state penitentiary.

Baker was also ordered to pay back all of the $13,000 she took, which Barki said she has already done.

Former college cashier pleads guilty to embezzlement charges

A former cashier at Bethany College pleaded guilty Friday to embezzlement and falsifying accounts.

Shelly Lough took at estimated $1.38 million from the school between July 2011 and May 2013. She has said she did so because she was being blackmailed by Jason and Rachell Wees. They’ve been indicted on federal charges.

Prosecutors said Lough has been cooperating with authorities and believed the plea bargain agreement was fair.

Lough faces 2-20 years in prison at a sentencing hearing set for April 8.

Brooke County Board of Education Employee Accused of Embezzlement

A woman hired by the Brooke County Board of Education is facing embezzlement charges.

Authorities said Debra Ann Baker is accused of writing checks to herself from the United School Service Employee Association's account while she was the secretary-treasurer of the organization.

According to court documents, an investigation of bank documents revealed that during a 22-month period between Jan 1, 2012, to October 8, 2013, Baker allegedly wrote herself $26,400 in $600 checks.

When questioned about the incidents by police, Baker reportedly said she was having trouble paying her bills and had written the checks as an advance on her stipend, but she "ended up taking more later."

According to bank records, in July of 2012 alone, five $600 checks were deposited into Baker's account, with two deposits occurring on the same day.

Arrest made in Bethany College Embezzlement

Authorities have made an arrest in connection with an ongoing Bethany College embezzlement case. According to Brooke County prosecutor Joe Barki, Rachelle Weese was arrested Friday as part of the Federal investigation. Barki says Weese is alleged to have blackmailed Shelly Lough into stealing more than $500,000 from the college. Lough worked as the school cashier and was indicted back in November on charges of embezzlement and falsifying accounts.   Lough told investigators from the beginning that others were involved, and blackmailed her into taking the money. The state and federal investigation is ongoing.  Stay with NEWS9 as we work to learn more.

School worker charged with embezzlement

A Brooke County Schools employee has been charged with embezzling from the trade organization of which she was secretary-treasurer.

The West Virginia State Police charged Debra A. Baker, 61, of 130 Scenery Hill, Wellsburg, with the crime for allegedly taking about $12,600 from the U.S. School Service Employees Association of West Virginia between January 2012 and October 2013.

According to court documents, Baker and two other officers with the group, which represents school service personnel in West Virginia schools, each are entitled to a monthly stipend and Baker cashed checks intended for another officer.

State Police said Baker confessed to the crime, saying financial difficulties led her to take the funds with the intention of replacing them.

Baker has been a secretary for Brooke County Schools' transportation department for 11 years.

Kathy Kidder-Wilkerson, the school district's superintendent, said Baker has been placed on leave until the case is resolved. She said Baker's position didn't involve her handling any of the school district's funds.

Baker's case is pending in Brooke County Magistrate Court.

Woman Accused of Bethany College Embezzlement Enters Plea Agreement

The woman accused of embezzling $500,000 from Bethany College was back in court on Monday for a pre-trial hearing.

In November, Shelly Lough pleaded not guilty to two counts of embezzlement and falsifying accounts. On Monday, both parties reached a plea agreement, however, nothing has been committed to in writing. Brooke County Prosecutor Joe Barki says the plea agreement includes a plea of guilty to two felony charges and an appropriate sentence that is fair and agreeable with the victims in this case. He believes that the case will be resolved in January.

The case began in October of this year, when a financial audit revealed that more than $500,000 in cash was unaccounted for in accounts relating to the college's cash window, which is used to cash student and employee checks.

Former FSU Official Named in 2-Count Information for Embezzlement, False Tax Return

Former Fairmont State University Vice President and Chief Information Officer, David Tamm, is facing federal embezzlement charges.

A two count information filed in U.S. District Court by Andrew R. Cogar, Assistant U.S. Attorney, charges Tamm with one count of embezzling from a state agency receiving federal funds and one count of making and subscribing a false tax return for the 2012 tax year.

Tamm is accused of misusing funds between Oct. 2007 and Jan. 2013 while he was employed at FSU, according to court documents. The Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered that Tamm used state-issued government purchasing cards, or P-Cards, to purchase more than 300 computer switches from Pomeroy, an electronics company in Lexington, Ky. He did that several times between June 2008 and November 2012. He resold the switches for approximately $638,500, according to the complaint.

Count two charges Tamm with filing a false tax return in 2012. Tamm reported his income to the Internal Revenue Service as $149,415.

The information filed in U.S. District Court also includes a forfeiture allegation in the amount of at least $550,000. In July, U.S. District Court Judge Irene M. Keeley approved the sale of Tamm's 102 Rosewood Court home in Bridgeport that he had purchased in April 2012 with the money he obtained through his mail and wire fraud scheme, according to court filings. He closed on the property for $435,000. The Deed of Trust indicates that Tamm mortgaged the property for $342,500. Proceeds from the sale of the house were deposited into an interest-bearing escrow account maintained by the United States Marshals Service, according to court filings. If Tamm is convicted, the money from the sale of house would be forfeited to the U.S. government.

David Tamm was placed on unpaid administrative leave from the university in January 2013. Court documents said Tamm was questioned by an FBI agent on May 30. Tamm told agents that he was "not a bad person, but that he just made bad decisions."

Martinsburg, West Virginia man accused of embezzlement also has been charged with forging and uttering checks

A man accused of embezzling from the Martinsburg Manpower office also has been charged with forging and uttering checks totaling more than $20,000 against Valley College’s bank account, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court documents.

Bradley Scott Martin of 356 Classic Vanville Road in Martinsburg was arraigned Monday by Magistrate Harry L. Snow on 16 counts of forgery, one count of uttering and one count of embezzlement, according to court documents.

Martin, who was working as a contract employee for the college, is accused in the incidents between October 2012 and April 2013, according to court documents.

West Virginia State Police Cpl. J.M. Walker reviewed 60 checks in question, which totaled $20,842, according to court documents.

Walker said Martin admitted to forging and uttering the checks, which he accessed while being responsible for accounts payable at the college, documents stated.

The branch manager for Manpower told police that Martin altered time slips and was overpaid by $4,442, court documents stated.

Police said Martin indicated that he used the proceeds from the alleged fraud to pay restitution to the court for a previous embezzlement conviction, according to court documents.

Woman Sentenced for Johnson Elementary PTA Embezzlement in West Virginia

A Harrison County woman has two years to pay more than $40,000 back to the school PTA and Board of Education that she embezzled it from.

36-year-old Melissa Wilfong's one to ten year jail sentence was suspended for five years of probation. Wilfong was the Johnson Elementary PTA treasurer when she took more than $20,000 from the account.

She must pay the school back $27,334.92 and she also owes the Harrison County Board of Education $14,312.

She was also ordered to write letters of apology to the school and BOE.

 

After hearing that the former treasurer of the Johnson Elementary School PTA will immediately pay back all she embezzled from the group, a judge placed her on probation Thursday.Melissa Dawn Wilfong, 36, of Bridgeport, also has enough money set aside to pay Harrison County’s school board $3,000 or $4,000 toward auditing costs, defense attorney Tom Dyer said.Wilfong, who embezzled nearly $27,500 from the PTA, could face one to 10 years in prison if she violates her probation, though Judge Tom Bedell said he’s confident she won’t.The defendant must perform a total of 250 hours of community service, with 50 hours per year, Bedell ruled.

 

 

Former PTA president sentenced in West Virginia

The former president of Midland Elementary School's Parent Teacher Association pleaded guilty to misdemeanor embezzlement Wednesday in Randolph County Magistrate Court.

Sarah Jane Butcher, 35, of Elkins, was charged with embezzlement greater than $1,000 Feb. 4 after she allegedly wrote checks totaling more than $2,000 from a Midland Elementary School PTA bank account to pay for items that were not for school use.

On Wednesday, Butcher pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of less than $1,000, a misdemeanor, and paid full restitution in the amount of $2,260.69 to the magistrate clerk's office, which will forward the money to the Midland Elementary School PTA. In exchange, assistant Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Lori Gray dropped the felony embezzlement charge.
Butcher, who allegedly spent the money on personal items between Oct. 29, 2012, and Jan. 23, 2013, was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended in lieu of one year of supervised probation.

"We are very satisfied with the efforts of the Randolph County Magistrate Court, with the efforts of the Randolph County Sheriff's Department and with the efficiency of both of those agencies," Interim Superintendent of Randolph County Schools Terry George said Wednesday. "We are pleased with the swiftness with which the matter was resolved and very grateful that money will be returned to the PTA's bank account so that it can go about its business of organizing activities and events that will benefit the students of Midland Elementary School."

"They did an outstanding job," George said.

PTA leader arrested for embezzlement in West Virginia on February 4, 2013

The former president of Midland Elementary School's Parent Teacher Association was arrested for embezzlement Monday.

Sarah Jane Butcher, 35, of Elkins, was charged with embezzlement greater than $1,000 after she allegedly wrote checks totaling more than $2,000 from a Midland Elementary School PTA bank account to pay for items that were not for school use.

Butcher is accused of spending $2,260.69 on personal items between Oct. 29, 2012, and Jan. 23, 2013, according to the criminal complaint filed in the Randolph County Magistrate Clerk's Office.

The complaint states Randolph County Superintendent of Schools Terry George contacted the Randolph County Sheriff's Office Jan. 23 to report a crime involving finances. Deputy D.L. VanMeter with the RCSO subsequently met with George, Midland Elementary Principal Melinda Akers and Brad Smith, financial director for the Randolph County Board of Education, at the Randolph County board office.

At the meeting, Akers told VanMeter that she had "on several occasions" asked Butcher, the PTA president, to submit financial records from the PTA's bank account with Mountain Valley Bank, according to the complaint. Akers said that on Jan. 23, Butcher and another individual delivered the PTA checkbook and several receipts to Akers in the principal's office.

Butcher informed Akers that there had been "misappropriation of funds" while the bank account was under her control and simultaneously delivered a letter of resignation from her post to the principal.

When VanMeter met with Butcher on Jan. 29, Butcher told him that she had taken over as president of Midland Elementary's PTA at the beginning of the current 2012-2013 school year. Butcher also allegedly admitted to spending an estimated $2,024.62 on "non-PTA" supplies, the complaint states.

Butcher said she had written checks out of the PTA bank account to pay for food, clothes and electronics for her family.

"When asked why she used the funds from the account for personal use, (Butcher) advised that her husband was disabled and that it was hard times," VanMeter wrote. According to a list of checks provided in criminal complaint, the former PTA president allegedly wrote a series of checks to herself, Walmart and Big Lots from Oct. 29, 2012 through Jan. 8, 2013 that totaled $2,260.69.

Butcher told VanMeter that she took "full responsibility" for her actions and also said she planned on paying the money back with her tax refund.

When contacted for comment Monday, George said he was not authorized to discuss the specifics of the case due to the ongoing investigation.

"I would love to discuss it once it gets dealt with," the superintendent of schools said, "but I've been asked not to discuss it for the time being."

"I can tell you that individual no longer has any association with Randolph County Schools or any of Randolph County Schools' Parent Teacher Associations," George said.

Randolph County Magistrate George M. Riggleman set bond at $10,000 cash or surety; Butcher made bond Monday.

The penalty for a conviction of embezzlement greater than $1,000 is imprisonment for one to 10 years in the state penitentiary