Two former Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office employees are facing federal charges after prosecutors say they ran a scheme that lasted nearly two decades and drained more than $3 million from accounts belonging to some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. One of them is Lisa Lee French, 48, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, who worked as the office’s fiduciary supervisor. Her co-defendant is Barbara Gail Gooden, 60, also of Martinsburg, who was the former chief tax deputy.
A federal grand jury handed down a five-count indictment on June 18, 2026, charging both women with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of bank fraud.
What They’re Accused Of
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, Gooden and French conspired to defraud people from 2007 all the way through 2024. That’s 17 years of alleged wrongdoing. Prosecutors say the two embezzled cash payments collected by the Sheriff’s Office and manipulated conservatorship and estate bank accounts that the office was responsible for managing.
Conservatorship accounts, for context, are typically set up for people who can’t manage their own finances, often due to age, disability, or incapacity. That’s exactly why this case has drawn as much attention as it has. The money allegedly stolen wasn’t just taxpayer funds, it belonged to people who depended on the Sheriff’s Office to protect it.
How They Allegedly Did It
The methods described in the indictment are pretty methodical. Prosecutors say Gooden and French issued fraudulent checks, forged signatures, misused an official signature stamp, and diverted funds for their own personal use. The fraudulent checks were reportedly made out either to “Berkeley County Sheriff & Treasurer” or to a private business tied to the two women.
The scale here is what really stands out. Investigators say the pair carried out more than 700 fraudulent transactions in total, including over 550 forged checks. Funds were pulled from at least 59 separate conservator bank accounts.
Called the “Largest” Case of Its Kind
U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey didn’t hold back when describing the scope of this case, calling it one of the largest public corruption schemes in West Virginia history. He said the indictment doesn’t describe an isolated incident, but rather a prolonged and calculated abuse of authority by people who were specifically entrusted with protecting vulnerable individuals’ money.
Harvey added that his office will keep working to safeguard taxpayer resources and hold public employees accountable when they violate that kind of trust.
Where the Case Stands Now
French was arraigned in federal court and granted pre-trial release. Jury selection for her trial was scheduled for September 1, 2026, in Martinsburg, before U.S. District Judge Gina Groh.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar. Investigators from the FBI, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office all worked on the case, with cooperation from the Berkeley County Prosecutor’s Office and the Berkeley County Commission.
The government is also seeking forfeiture of any property connected to the alleged offenses, including a money judgment against both defendants.
A Community Still Waiting for Answers
This case had actually been simmering locally before the federal indictment came down. Back in a December 2024 Berkeley County Commission meeting, a resident named Troy Green reportedly asked publicly whether French had resigned or been fired, saying his mother had been a victim tied to the Sheriff’s Tax Office. At the time, commission officials could only say the matter was still under investigation.
Right now, everything against French and Gooden remains an allegation. Both are presumed innocent unless the government proves its case at trial.