charity fraud

The Williamson Daily News - 2 women face indictments for fraud against charity2 women face indictments for fraud against charity
by CHARLOTTE SANDERS, Senior Writer 8 months ago | 5070 views | 0 | 18 | |
The Grand Jury serving the September term of Mingo County Circuit Court returned 40 indictments Wednesday in 11 drug-related cases and on other felonious acts that included fraud, forgery, counterfeiting, sexual and child abuse.

Only one indictment, containing drug charges, was sealed.

Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney C. Michael Sparks commented, "I have been privileged to work with outstanding grand juries during my tenure as Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney and this grand jury was no exception. They are to be commended for a very busy and successful year. More than 100 indictments have been obtained for the second year in a row.

"In addition, I anticipate there will be several felony guilty pleas by information," said Sparks.

– Separate indictments charge two Mingo women with one count each of fraudulently and feloniously depriving ABLE Families Inc., (a nonprofit faith-based agency located at Kermit) of $85,875.83 by means of fraudulent pretenses.

Garnet Ann Fitchpatrick, 52, of Kermit, and Kelli Jo Marcum, 43, of Lenore, is each charged with fraudulent scheme and with conspiracy via fraudulent scheme to deprive ABLE Families over a period of five years – from 2005 to 2010.

The two were indicted upon the testimony of Trooper J.K.Weiss of the West Virginia State Police.

ABLE Families was founded in 1995 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling, dedicated to empowering families in the rural Tug Valley area of northern Mingo County. The agency's mission is "to confront the systemic causes of poverty by supporting low-income families as they make positive changes in their lives."

ABLE Families provides women and children in need with the skills and support to become contributing members of their community and to develop stronger families.

Chief Judge Michael Thornsbury accepted the report of the grand jury and dismissed them for the timebeing, subject to recall should there be a need for its services. Arraignments of defendants were scheduled this morning with the court setting bonds where allowed, determining if the defendants have legal counsel, and setting dates for trials.

– Seven persons were charged in separate indictments with submitting a fraudulent insurance claim and with conspiracy to commit a fraudulent insurance claim. One of those named is charged only with conspiracy to commit fraudulent insurance claim.

Charged separately with feloniously submitting a materially false statement on Dec. 27, 2008 in support of a claim for auto insurance benefits or payment pursuant to a Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company/Titan Insurance Company policy of insurance are the following:

Christopher Paul Dempsey Jr., 21, Montcalm, W.Va.; Barbara Sue Marcum, 40, Delbarton; Mary Ellen Marcum, 37, Dunlow; Edith Marian Puckett, 27, Delbarton; Philip Puckett, 22, Williamson; Phillip Marcum, 37, Lenore, and Timothy Jackson Graham, 24, Rock, W.Va.

The above-named persons, along with Lidge Monroe Marcum, 39, Dunlow, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit fraudulent insurance claim.

– Justin Tyler Russell, 25, Williamson, identified as a parent of a child under 18 years of age and not otherwise emancipated by law, is charged with one count of felonious child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury on May 10, 2010.

– Jerry Roger Walker, 64, Verner, W.Va., stands indicted on four counts of first degree sexual abuse of a child under 16 years of age, between Nov. 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010. The defendant is accused of intentionally and feloniously subjecting the child to sexual contact by forcible compulsion without the consent of the child.

– Pamela K. West, 29, Red Jacket, was indicted on one count of fraudulently and feloniously depriving H&R Block Inc. of $9,600 by means of fraudulent pretenses between Dec. 11, 2009 and Jan. 15, 2010.

– Three Delbarton residents identified as Dock Slone Cowgill, 26; Kimberly Dawn Evans, 25, and Carl Edward Simpson, 38, were named in separate indictments and charged with counterfeiting and conspiracy to commit counterfeiting on May 26, 2010. The three are alleged to have feloniously made and forged $700.00 in federal reserve notes (Count I), and to have conspired to commit the forgery or counterfeiting.

– Three young adults were indicted on charges of grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny on June 28, 2010 in connection with the stealing and taking away of a 2006 Honda Rancher 350ES 4x4 ATV owned by Danny Ferguson and valued at $3,365.

Named in separate indictments on those charges are Ryan Matthew Marcum, 19; Jonathan Lee Hatfield, 19, and Michael Shaun Stevens, 20, all of Fort Gay, W.Va.

– Joshua Clayton Waller, 19, Columbus, Ohio, was indicted on a charge of feloniously breaking and entering a garage (other than a dwelling) owned by Maggie Morgan with intent to commit a crime on July 3, 2009. He also is charged with grand larceny by carrying away a 2003 Honda Rubicon 500 ATV owned by Julie Sturgell and valued at $3,495, with specific intent to permanently deprive Julie Sturgell of its ownership.

– Daniel Edward Vance, 20, Dingess, and Ashley Denise Nelson, 21, Verdunville, were separately indicted on charges of entry of a building other than a dwelling; conspiracy to enter the building and grand larceny.

The two are alleged to have feloniously broken into and entered Calvary Freewill Baptist Church at Dingess on May 15, 2010 with intent to commit a larceny therein. Count II of their indictments charge them with conspiring in the break-in, and Count III charges them with feloniously stealing and carrying away a Peavey amplifier valued at approximately $1,000 and a Fender bass guitar valued at about $700, owned by Calvary Freewill Baptist Church and collectively valued at $1,700.

– Shawn Hackney, 34, Hatfield, Ky., was indicted on two counts of destruction of property owned by Verizon Communications Inc. on March 8 and March 24, 2010.

Hackney is accused of feloniously injuring and defacing telephone cable on both of the above dates, causing a loss of approximately $5,000 in the first incident and $7,000 loss on the second occasion.

– Rosetta M. Ferrell, 57, McCarr, Ky., was indicted on three counts of forgery and three counts of uttering. The offenses were committed during the period, Jan. 6-16, 2010. The defendant is charged with three counts of forging a First National Bank of Williamson check with intent to defraud Jean R. Taylor, and with three counts of uttering three checks to the prejudice of Jean R.Taylor with intent to defraud.

– Danny Darrell Colegrove, 24, Lenore, was indicted on two counts, the first count charging him with falsely and feloniously forging a Marshall Mining Inc. check to the prejudice of Teddy R. New with intent to defraud New. Count II charges Colegrove with uttering as true a Marshall Mining Inc. check, knowing it to be forged to the prejudice of Teddy R. New. Sgt. J.Smith testified to the grand jury.

– Elmer Hurley, 29, Justice, is charged with one count of burglary and one count of malicious assault. He is alleged to have feloniously broken into and entered Julia Dotson's dwelling house on Nov. 1, 2009 with intent to commit a crime therein. Count II of his indictment charges him with maliciously and feloniously causing bodily injury to Julia Dotson.

– Two persons identified as Thomas Gordon Stepp, 25, and Kenneth Allen Marcum, 22, (also known as "Pee Wee") both of Marrowbone, were named in separate indictments on charges of transferring stolen goods and with conspiracy in transferring stolen goods.

They are accused of feloniously transferring to Billy Joe Farra a stolen 2009 Yamaha YZ250F motorcycle valued at approximately $4,360, having reason to believe that it had been stolen. The two also are charged with conspiracy in transferring the motorcycle.

Billy Joe Farrar, age and address not available, was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen goods (the Yamaha motorcycle), having reason to believe it had been stolen.

• There were 11 indictments returned on various drug-related charges. One is sealed and the unidentified defendant is charged with four counts of delivery of a Schedule I controlled substance (Marijuana). The other indictments and charges are as follows:

– Billy Ray Horn, 34, Williamson; two counts, delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance (Oxycodone); one count each of transporting a Schedule II controlled substance (Oxycodone) into the state, and transporting a Schedule IV controlled substance (Alprazolam) into the state; and one count each of possession of Oxycodone and Alprazolam with intent to deliver. The dates of the offenses included Jan. 14, 25 and 29, 2010.

– Michelle Lea Collier, 38, Belfry, Ky., indicted on two counts of obtaining controlled substances (alprazolam and hydrocodone) by fraud and deception, and two counts of conspiracy in obtaining those controlled substances by fraud and deception.

– Gene Randall Blair, 39, Belfry, Ky., indicted on two counts of obtaining controlled substances (alprazolam and hydrocodone) fraudulently and feloniously; and two counts of conspiracy in obtaining those substances by fraud and deception.

– Albert Warren Childress, 29, Williamson, charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of attempted delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine).

– Jessica L. Gannon, 26, Williamson, indicted on one count each of conspiracy and attempted delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine).

(Childress and Gannon are alleged to have feloniously transported Cocaine to the Buffalo Mountain Trailhead for imminent delivery to a law enforcement officer, but fell short of delivering the substance.)

– James Cecil Messer, 29, Kermit, indicted on two counts of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance (Oxycodone) and one count delivery of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Alprazolam) to a confidential informant. May 18 and May 20, 2010.

– Melvin Messer, 28, Kermit, indicted on two counts delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance (Oxycodone) to a confidential informant on May 18 and 20, 2010.

– Darryl Jeffery Muncy, 50, Kermit, indicted on one count each of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (Oxycodone) and possession of a Schedule III controlled substance (Hydrocodone) with intent to deliver to another person in each instance on June 11, 2010.

– Judy Carol Sheppard, 53, Kermit, indicted on two counts delivery of a Schedule III controlled substance and two counts conspiracy with Delbert Lee Spurlock in the delivery of the substance (Hydrocodone) to a confidential informant on March 5, 2010.

– Delbert Lee Spurlock, 42, Kermit, indicted on four counts delivery of a Schedule III controlled substance (Hydrocodone) and two counts conspiracy with Judy Carol Sheppard in delivery of the substance, Hydrocodone, to a confidential informant, March 5, 2010.