Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Amy Deavers, 50, of Glasgow, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Deavers admitted that she helped access and attempt to transfer a veteran’s stolen disability benefits as part of an identity theft scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately December 2020 through at least December 1, 2022, Brittany King and a co-defendant unlawfully obtained the personal identification information of multiple individuals through King’s employment with a business that cleaned local office spaces. King and the co-defendant used that personal information to reroute the mail of their victims to King’s address in Charleston. With the rerouted mail, King and the co-defendant opened lines of credit and bank accounts and obtained loans and credit cards.

Deavers admitted that she became involved in the wire fraud scheme after King and the co-defendant were arrested and federally charged for their actions on December 5, 2022. Deavers and the co-defendant attempted to transfer $1,000 from one of the scheme’s fraudulent bank accounts to Deavers on December 30, 2022. This account was opened to reroute the Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits of one of the identity theft victims.

On January 30, 2023, the co-defendant was incarcerated at the South Central Regional Jail when she spoke to Deavers during a recorded jail phone call. Deavers admitted that the co-defendant provided her with information during the call to access and transfer funds from the veteran victim’s fraudulent account.

Deavers is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Deavers also owes up to $12,086.90 in restitution.

King, 34, of East Bank, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on October 3, 2023, and awaits sentencing. King also owes $176,118.73 in restitution.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the United States Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General,  and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over today’s hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Isabell and Jonathan T. Storage are prosecuting the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson provided substantial assistance.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-14. 

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