WASHINGTON, March 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's U.S. Attorney's office for XXXXXX (insert district) issued the following press release:
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - The owner of several cemeteries across North Central West Virginia has admitted to taking money intended for grave markers, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Jeffrey Phares, 65, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Phares owned and operated four cemeteries including: Greenlawn Memorial Park in New Martinsville, Elkins Memorial Gardens in Elkins, Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Clarksburg, and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Jane Lew. Phares defrauded customers by accepting payments and design approvals for grave markers, then misappropria...