Former WV Supreme Court Justice Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a shocking turn of events, former West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Menis E. Ketchum II, age 75, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. The plea deal was announced by United States Attorney Mike Stuart, who praised the exemplary work of the FBI, the West Virginia Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and prosecutors Anna Forbes and Phil Wright.

According to court documents, Justice Ketchum admitted to repeated personal use of a State of West Virginia vehicle and State fuel credit card over the course of 2011 through 2014. The abuse of power was allegedly linked to his travel from his home in Huntington, West Virginia to and from a private golf club in western Virginia. The roundtrip mileage for each of these golf outings was approximately 400 miles, costing the taxpayers of West Virginia approximately $220 per trip.

Justice Ketchum served as a Supreme Court Justice from January 1, 2008 through July 27, 2018. His guilty plea is a stunning blow to the reputation of the West Virginia judiciary, and serves as a reminder that public corruption will not be tolerated.

“Justice Ketchum did the right thing for doing the wrong thing,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “There is no such thing as a small felony. There is no such thing as a little bit of public corruption. I want to praise the exemplary work of the FBI, the West Virginia Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and prosecutors Anna Forbes and Phil Wright.”

Justice Ketchum faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 6, 2018. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the plea hearing, which marked the end of a long and grueling investigation.

The plea agreement is a significant victory for the people of West Virginia, who demand accountability from their elected officials. As the Grimy Times will continue to report on this developing story, one thing is clear: public corruption will not be tolerated in the Mountain State.

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