Huntington Man Gets 2 Years for Identity Theft Scheme

Huntington Man Gets 2 Years for Identity Theft Scheme

A Huntington man is behind bars after a brazen identity theft scheme landed him a two-year prison sentence.

George West, 53, of Huntington, was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for his role in an aggravated identity theft scheme.

According to court documents, West forged the name of his employer on a $780 check in January 2022, claiming it was a payment owed to him. He then gave the check to his roommate as payment for rent he owed.

But it didn’t stop there. West also stole two checks from his roommate, writing each for $780 to pay two months’ worth of rent and signing them with his roommate’s name. West admitted to not being authorized to write the checks or sign them in his name.

West’s scheme landed him a hefty bill – $28,912.90 in restitution, which he must pay on top of his two-year prison sentence.

The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Will Thompson commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Huntington Police Department, and the Charleston Police Department for their role in bringing West to justice.

A copy of the press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-89.

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