⏱ 2 min read
Jeffrey Phares, a 65-year-old cemetery owner from Fayetteville, West Virginia, has been scamming hundreds of customers in North Central West Virginia. Phares, who owned and operated four cemeteries, including Greenlawn Memorial Park, Elkins Memorial Gardens, Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery, and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, would accept money from victims for grave markers, send them design approvals, and then use the funds for his personal use. The scam, which lasted for an unknown amount of time, targeted vulnerable individuals who were grieving the loss of loved ones. Phares will be sentenced on November 10, 2026, in federal court in Wheeling.
According to court documents, there are approximately 225 victims with more than $600,000 in unfulfilled grave marker orders. Phares pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March and has agreed to pay restitution to the victims as part of his plea agreement. The U.S. Attorney’s office, FBI, and other agencies have been working together to investigate the case and ensure that Phares is held accountable for his actions.
The sentencing hearing will take place before U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey, who will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Phares faces up to 20 years in prison for his role in the wire fraud scheme. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas.
The investigation into Phares’ scam was conducted by the FBI, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. If you are a victim of the scam and have submitted your contract to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, U.S. Probation, or the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, your information has been received and is being reviewed as part of the restitution process.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: West Virginia
- Location: WV
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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