CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a stunning case of white-collar crime, Kim Cooper, the former office manager of Mountain State Justice, Inc., was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison for embezzling over $1.5 million. The revelation came as a shock to both the legal community and the residents of West Virginia who rely on the non-profit organization for civil legal services.
Cooper, 55, from St. Albans, admitted her guilt on January 23, 2017, when she pled guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion. She had been working at Mountain State Justice since the late 1990’s and was charged with opening a secret bank account under the guise of the organization, using it to siphon off funds meant for attorney fees.
The scheme spanned almost 12 years, during which Cooper forged signatures, concealed the stolen checks from the organization’s records, and sent false income statements to the board. Her fraudulent activities went undetected until her interview by federal law enforcement agents in March 2016, leading to her termination shortly thereafter.
The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and the IRS-Criminal Investigation division, with First Assistant United States Attorney Philip H. Wright leading the prosecution. United State District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., who imposed the sentence, highlighted Cooper’s previous conviction for financial embezzlement and deemed her actions ‘particularly egregious.’
Judge Copenhaver emphasized the need to deter similar criminal conduct, sentencing Cooper to the upper end of the guideline range. The sentence was 46 to 57 months, reflecting the severity of her crime and the significant loss to Mountain State Justice and its clients.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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