Misused public fundsCourts & justice

Two former Berkeley County, W.Va. sheriff's office employees indicted in alleged $3 million conservatorship-account scheme

Confidence: Alleged · 2 sourcesBerkeley County · Oct 13, 2026

Subject of this story

Berkeley County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia)

Also named

Oversight

West Virginia State Auditor's Office

U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of West Virginia

What happened

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of West Virginia returned a five-count indictment, announced June 18, 2026, charging Barbara Gail Gooden and Lisa Lee French, both of Martinsburg, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. Prosecutors allege that between 2007 and 2024 the two former sheriff's office employees embezzled cash payments and manipulated conservatorship and estate bank accounts administered by the office, misappropriating more than $3 million across more than 700 transactions and at least 59 conservator accounts. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office and the West Virginia State Auditor's Office, and the Berkeley County Commission cooperated, according to officials. An indictment is an allegation, not proof of guilt.

Sources (2)

WDTVAuthorities said the alleged fraud involved more than 700 transactions, including over 550 forged checks and affected at least 59 conservator bank accounts.

West Virginia Public BroadcastingGooden and French are alleged to have misappropriated more than $3 million dollars.

Response

Berkeley County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia)

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What happened next (0)

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