FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Dixie woman has been sentenced to one year of federal probation and ordered to pay $1,855 in restitution after pleading guilty to fraud involving identification documents, features and information.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Crystal Renee Severson, 45, was employed as an administrative assistant with the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists from March 28, 2016, to March 16, 2022. Her duties included receiving applications and application fees from individuals seeking licensure as nail technicians.
Authorities said that on or about Jan. 10, 2022, Severson altered a $100 money order submitted by a licensure applicant by removing the original payee’s name and address. She admitted in a plea agreement that she replaced the information with her mother’s name and address before depositing the money order into her personal bank account.
Severson also admitted that her mother was unaware the money order had been altered and had not given permission for her name to be used.
As part of the plea agreement, Severson further admitted to fraudulently depositing 19 additional money orders submitted by licensure applicants between Aug. 21, 2019, and Nov. 23, 2021. The 20 money orders totaled $1,855.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the sentence and credited the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations for their work on the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
