U.S. Attorney Thompson Announces Indictment in $3.4 Million Scheme to Defraud Boone County Schools

On December 11, 2024, United States Attorney Will Thompson held a press conference with law enforcement officials and other partners at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston, W.Va., to announce an 18-count indictment charging Michael David Barker, 47, of Foster, with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and money laundering. The indictment alleges Barker defrauded the Boone County Board of Education out of approximately $3,400,000 while serving as the maintenance director for Boone County schools. A copy of the press release announcing the indictment is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/....