RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Raleigh County man is facing numerous felony charges after authorities say he used fraudulent checks to purchase thousands of dollars in merchandise and pay for a tattoo depicting Jesus Christ.
Allen Bryan Sturgill Jr., 18, of Daniels, is accused in two connected criminal cases involving fraudulent checks used at businesses in the Beckley and Beaver areas during August 2026.
According to criminal complaints filed in Raleigh County Magistrate Court, the investigations involve approximately $4,777.75 in alleged fraudulent transactions.
One investigation began after the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office received a fraud complaint on September 14 involving a tattoo business located on Johnstown Road in Beckley.
According to the complaint, Sturgill received a tattoo depicting Jesus Christ on his right forearm on August 29, 2026.
Investigators allege Sturgill attempted to pay $1,480 for the tattoo through two separate checks, one for $1,400 and another for $80.
The business owner reportedly watched Sturgill complete and sign the checks before receiving a notification through a mobile banking application that the account had insufficient funds.
Investigators subsequently determined the checks were fraudulent and connected the incident to an ongoing investigation involving additional fraudulent transactions.
In a separate criminal complaint, investigators allege Sturgill used stolen checks belonging to a family member to make purchases at Kroger and Little General locations in Beaver between August 22 and August 25.
According to court documents, the investigation began August 28 after authorities received a larceny complaint involving stolen checkbooks.
Investigators reviewed banking records and surveillance footage from the businesses to identify several transactions allegedly involving Sturgill.
At the Beaver Plaza Kroger, investigators identified transactions on three separate dates.
On August 22, Sturgill allegedly used two checks totaling $207.40.
Two days later, on August 24, he allegedly used two additional checks totaling $575.40.
On August 25, investigators say Sturgill used five checks totaling $2,368.63.
Authorities also reviewed surveillance footage from the Grandview Little General, where Sturgill allegedly used another check for $146.32 on August 22.
The criminal complaint states that Sturgill admitted during a recorded statement to knowingly and fraudulently using the checks, resulting in a total loss of $3,297.75 in the retail-related investigation.
Investigators allege the transactions involved forged signatures, unauthorized use of a checking account and fraudulent attempts to obtain goods and services.
Both investigations were conducted by Detective Corporal R.D. McDaniel Jr. of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office.
The criminal complaints list multiple felony offenses, including forgery, uttering, fraudulent schemes and fraud involving access devices.
All charges are allegations, and Sturgill is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
