WV Barber Board Staffer Pilfers Fees

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GAULEY BRIDGE, WV – Crystal Renee Severson, 45, copped a plea in federal court today, admitting she skimmed nearly two grand in licensing fees from aspiring nail technicians. Severson, who worked as an administrative assistant at the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, ran the scheme between 2019 and 2022.

According to court documents, Severson wasn’t satisfied with her paycheck. She altered money orders submitted with license applications – changing the payee info to her mother’s name and address before depositing them into her own account. Her mother was apparently clueless.

The feds say Severson pulled this off with 20 separate money orders, totaling $1,855. It wasn’t a sophisticated operation, but it was enough to land her in court.

Severson’s sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2026. She’s looking at a maximum of five years behind bars, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and she’ll have to pay back every penny she stole. The IRS-CI and the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations busted the case.