Phyllis Doty, 68, of Logan, West Virginia, is facing federal charges after a grand jury indictment accused her of running a multi-year fraud scheme against Logan County Schools. The former superintendent allegedly stole over $12,000 in school-purchased electronics and used taxpayer funds to deck out her son’s 2015 wedding with thousands of dollars in decor—all while billing it to public accounts.
The indictment, unsealed today in Charleston, details how Doty exploited her authority from 2011 to 2015 by diverting at least 20 Apple iPods and iPads meant for school staff. She either sold the devices on eBay for personal profit or handed them out as gifts to family members. The purchases were made under the Board of Education’s name, with Doty either directing or personally executing the orders before skimming them for private use.
Even more brazen, Doty allegedly ordered more than $6,500 in wedding supplies using school funds—items like bread baskets, drink dispensers, decorative urns, and easels. She claimed these were requested by teachers, but investigators found no evidence of such requests. In reality, the goods stayed boxed until they were shipped to her son’s wedding venue. After the event, some were given to the wedding planner as gifts.
When whispers of suspicious spending began to surface, Doty allegedly tried to cover her tracks. She pressured a school board staff member to falsely confirm she had permission to take the electronics. She also asked the wedding planner to return the stolen decor to a school facility in a last-ditch effort to fabricate legitimacy.
Dotty now faces two counts of wire fraud—each punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison—two counts of theft from a program receiving federal funds, carrying up to 10 years per count, and one count of mail fraud, which also carries a 20-year maximum sentence. The charges stem from a joint probe by the FBI and the West Virginia Legislature Commission on Special Investigations.
“There is no such thing as a little bit of public corruption,” declared U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart at today’s press conference. “The theft of precious taxpayer dollars is a cancer to society.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriele Wohl is prosecuting the case. Doty remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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