MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — An Inwood man has admitted to fraudulently taking over a quarter of a million dollars from his father.
The U.S. Attorney’s office reports Joseph Beach, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Beach was the fiduciary for his father, who is under the care of a veterans’ care facility and receives monthly benefits. As the fiduciary, Beach received his father’s veteran’s disability, retirement, and social security payments but used them for his own benefit. The total amount of funds taken by Beach was $253,867.12.
“It is always sad when older West Virginians are victimized by their own family members,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who steal from their loved ones in order to enrich themselves.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the Social Security Administration investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
