Robert Dale Adkins, 76, of Ona, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for a brazen six-year scheme that bled nearly half a million dollars from his own church’s coffers. Adkins, the former treasurer of Antioch Baptist Church, admitted to writing $487,488.92 in unauthorized checks from the church’s account for his personal benefit, marking one of the most audacious acts of financial betrayal in recent Cabell County history.
The fraud unfolded between 2012 and December 2018, during which Adkins exploited his position of trust to funnel church funds toward his personal debts and expenses. As treasurer, he had legitimate access to the church’s checking account and the authority to sign checks on its behalf. But instead of stewarding the donations of faithful parishioners, he weaponized that access, writing and mailing checks without approval from church leadership or congregants.
Those checks were not minor withdrawals—they were systematic raids. Each transaction siphoned money meant for ministry operations, community outreach, and sacred obligations, diverting it to pay off private creditors and fund personal expenditures. Over the course of six years, Adkins laundered his financial troubles through the church’s good name, leaving a trail of deception that only surfaced after a forensic review of the books.
U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart didn’t mince words: “Stealing is one thing, but stealing almost half a million dollars from a church is both remarkable and tragic.” He emphasized the depth of betrayal, noting that Adkins didn’t just breach accounting protocols—he shattered the moral foundation of trust that defines religious institutions. “This man betrayed the trust of the church and its parishioners for six years by padding his personal bank account with the church’s money,” Stuart said.
The investigation was a joint effort between the West Virginia State Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which handled the mail fraud component—each time Adkins mailed a fraudulent check, he triggered federal jurisdiction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg McVey prosecuted the case, securing both the 33-month sentence and full restitution of $487,488.92. The judgment was handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers, who underscored the gravity of exploiting a house of worship for personal gain.
Court records, including the full charging document and sentencing memo, are available via PACER under Case No. 3:20-cr-00012. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia continues to pursue accountability in public and nonprofit sector fraud. Follow updates at SDWVNews and USAttyStuart on Twitter.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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