Tyree Skipper, Wire Fraud Scheme, WV 2023

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A federal indictment unsealed today alleges a coordinated fraud scheme spanning state lines, targeting financial institutions and private victims through forged documents and stolen identities. At the center of the case: Tyree Skipper, 44, currently incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Hazelton; his co-defendant and relative, Debra Skipper, 60, of Euclid, Ohio; and Daniel Aaron Stone, 36, held at Federal Correctional Institution Beckley.

Tyree Skipper and Debra Skipper face one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud” and two counts of “Wire Fraud.” If convicted, each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Tyree Skipper is additionally charged with two counts of “Aggravated Identity Theft,” each mandating a consecutive two-year prison term, stacking on top of any other sentence.

Daniel Aaron Stone was hit with a separate indictment charging him with one count of “Attempt to Commit Wire Fraud,” punishable by up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine. He also faces three counts of “Aggravated Identity Theft,” each requiring a mandatory two-year sentence, and two counts of “Possession of Fifteen or More Access Devices with Intent to Defraud,” each carrying a maximum of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors allege the defendants used electronic transfers, falsified financial records, and counterfeit access devices to siphon funds and open unauthorized lines of credit. According to court documents, the scheme relied on layered deception—routing communications through email, phone calls, and the U.S. mail system—to mask their tracks and exploit vulnerabilities in banking protocols.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar is prosecuting the case. The investigation was led by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, which traced digital footprints, financial trails, and inmate correspondence to build the charges. Authorities stress that prison confinement did not halt the alleged criminal activity, pointing to use of institutional communication systems in furtherance of the fraud.

An indictment is not a conviction. Tyree Skipper, Debra Skipper, and Daniel Aaron Stone are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Sentencing, if convicted, will be determined under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, weighing the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history.