West Virginia Cemetery Owner Faces Sentencing for Defrauding Hundreds

A sentencing date has been scheduled for a cemetery owner in North Central West Virginia who is accused of defrauding hundreds of customers. Jeffrey Phares, 65, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, is set to appear in federal court in Wheeling on November 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey. Phares pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March, admitting to a scheme where he accepted payments for grave markers, secured design approvals from customers, and subsequently used the funds for personal expenses instead of fulfilling the orders. His business operations encompassed four cemeteries: Greenlawn Memorial Park in New Martinsville, Elkins Memorial Gardens in Elkins, Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Clarksburg, and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Jane Lew.

Court documents indicate that approximately 225 victims have been identified, with over $600,000 in grave marker orders remaining unfulfilled. As part of his plea agreement, Phares has consented to pay restitution to those he defrauded. He is also required to provide the government with all necessary documentation to ascertain the full amount of restitution, which will be finalized before his sentencing. Individuals who have already submitted their contracts with Phares to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, U.S. Probation, or the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office have had their information received and are part of the ongoing restitution review process. Phares faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, with the final determination to be made by the judge after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other legal factors.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas on behalf of the government. The investigation involved the collaborative efforts of the FBI, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. This legal action aims to hold Phares accountable for his fraudulent activities and to provide a measure of restitution to the affected families.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia

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