Federal prosecutors say two former employees of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office have been indicted for allegedly stealing millions of dollars over nearly two decades.
60-year-old Barbara Gooden and 48-year-old Lisa French, both of Martinsburg, face charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and several counts of bank fraud following a federal grand jury indictment. Authorities allege the women embezzled taxpayer funds and money from conservatorship accounts under the Sheriff’s Office administration between 2007 and 2024.
Prosecutors say the scheme included forged checks, fraudulent transactions and misuse of official authority to divert funds for personal use. Investigators estimate more than three million dollars was taken through over 700 transactions involving at least 59 conservator accounts. The FBI and several state and local agencies investigated the case.
By: Dianah Gibson
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