FORMER RICHWOOD MAYOR BABER SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING FLOOD MONEY

(10/13/2021)

Former Richwood mayor Bob Henry Baber was sentenced Oct. 12 for felony defrauding the city of Richwood out of about $2,500, according to West Virginia Auditor John B. McCuskey. Baber plead guilty to the charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. Baber, 70, was facing 1-10 years in prison and will be required to pay restitution, cooperating with federal investigators. From 2016 to 2018, the audit and criminal investigation determined more than $3.1 million of federal disaster relief funds were received by the city following epic flooding. The money was commingled by the actions of city officials, and a portion was diverted to personal use of town officials. The audit only accounted for $1.3 million of the 3.1 million that Richwood got, indicating that others made away with funds. Baber was once a candidate for governor, Glenville State College Professor of English, and had long been involved in civic affairs.

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