Kanawha County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Fraud Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kathy Darlene Strickmaker, 64, of Dry Branch, was sentenced today to one year and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $698,883.32 in restitution for bank fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Strickmaker was the administrative assistant for a Charleston business from 2006 to 2018. Strickmaker’s duties as administrative assistant included paying bills on behalf of the business, which maintained multiple accounts at a bank in Charleston, and managing the business’s payroll and accounts payable.

From on or about January 15, 2015, through on or about November 21, 2018, Strickmaker devised a scheme to obtain money under the control of the business’s bank, defrauding the business and its bank to enrich herself and her son. Strickmaker admitted that she wrote at least 80 unauthorized checks drawn from the business’s bank accounts and forged her employer’s signature on them. Strickmaker further admitted that she made the unauthorized checks payable to herself, her son, and three of her son’s associates in amounts of between approximately $800 to $3,300. Once the unauthorized checks were cashed, the son would take the money. The victim’s loss amount totaled $698,883.32.

“The defendant’s scheme endured for years and was executed frequently, resulting in a staggering loss for the victim business,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) for their the investigative work, and Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson for prosecuting the case.”

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.

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-57.

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