HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Cabell County man has pleaded guilty to money laundering after admitting he embezzled more than $624,000 from a nonprofit veterinary clinic he managed.
Jerod Timothy Vannatter, 43, of Barboursville, pleaded guilty Monday to money laundering in federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Court documents and statements made in court indicate Vannatter served as the clinic’s manager from approximately February 2018 until February 2025. His responsibilities included overseeing administrative functions such as payroll and vendor payments.
As part of his guilty plea, Vannatter admitted to carrying out an embezzlement scheme from approximately October 2022 through December 2024.
Federal prosecutors said Vannatter made multiple payroll and other unearned deposits into his personal checking account using checks he issued from the clinic’s bank account. He also created false vendor invoices to initiate payments from the clinic and directed the money into his personal checking account.
On Oct. 11, 2023, Vannatter transferred $20,000 in embezzled money from his checking account into his savings account, according to prosecutors.
Vannatter admitted that he embezzled a total of $624,599.86. He also admitted that he initiated and carried out the scheme because he was addicted to online gambling and lost all of the proceeds through gambling.
Vannatter is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 16, 2027. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. He also owes $624,599.86 in restitution.
U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Barboursville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
