ANSTED, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man faces Felony Financial Exploitation charges after fraudulently obtaining and selling off one of the horses of an elderly woman who had paid him to train two of the animals.
According to documents from the Magistrate Court of Fayette County, a Financial Exploitation of the Elderly complaint was lodged on June 5, 2024. The victim, 70-year-old Darlene Falbo, reportedly entered into an agreement with Travis Rager – born 3/30/1991 – in which Rager would be given two horses in exchange for the training of two mare horses for her.
The agreement also stated that Rager would receive one horse to train for two-to-three months along with the two gifted horses, then the second horse would be sent for training once training was completed for the first. Rager is said to have received the horses on February 3, 2024, and that he’d returned the written bill of sale/contract she had sent via the US Postal Service.
On April 15, 2024, Rager contacted Falbo about selling the horse he had been expected to train, stating that the “the horse wasn’t working out and wouldn’t be what she wanted.” Following the conversation, the two reached an understanding that the horse would be sold, and that Falbo would receive $3,000 through two $1,500 payments to be sent in May.
Falbo advised she had never received the first payment for the horse in May, and that Rager claimed to have sent a check but that the check was returned. Afterward Rager reportedly blocked her on also social media and refused to take her phone calls or messages.
It was later discovered that Falbo had sold one of the horses to a Craigsville resident on February 7, 2024. This transaction was confirmed with the individual who made the purchase.
When authorities made contact with Rager, he stated that Falbo received her money and that he didn’t owe her anything. He additionally stated she would have to take him to court if she wanted any money. Rager stated that he had sent a check but that it had been returned by the post office.
When asked if he could provide the return letter, Rager stated that he likely wouldn’t be able to find it because he was moving to Tennessee but would let the officer know should he be able to locate it. This information was never provided.
Rager advised he had sent a check but that Falbo “wanted more and more money.” When asked whether bank statements could be provided showing a check had been cashed, the suspect faltered, changing the direction of the story to state that he didn’t know if he had sent cash or a check and eventually committed to the narrative that he had paid with cash.
Speaking with Falbo again on June 11, 2024, Cpl. Milam was informed that payment had still not been received and that the victim had still been unable to make contact with the suspect. The value of the three horses on February 3, 2024, was stated to be $7,500 in asset value including the cost of having the animals hauled to the Thornton area.
Based on these incidents, Travis Douglas Rager faces felony charges of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly.
