AM Stone | WVOW NEWS
CHARLESTON A Kentucky man pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud after accepting payments for building projects in three states he never intended to do.
According to court documents, 44-year-old William T. Hurst, of Morehead, Kentucky, admitted he agreed to build pole barns for a pair of residents in Putnam and Jackson counties in March 2021. He received checks totaling $10,186 as down payments. Hurst admitted he never intended to build either barn, and instead cashed or deposited the checks at area banks for his personal use.
Hurst also admitted to similarly scamming six other property owners in Ona and Lesage, Cabell County; Charleston, Kanawha County; Coolville and Willow Wood, Ohio; and South Shore, Kentucky, all in a one-month period between February 22 and March 23, 2021. In each instance, Hurst agreed to build a pole barn or other structure but never began work or bought any needed supplies. All together, the jilted residents paid Hurst $25,032. Eventually, Hurst stopped communicating with the victims.
Hurst admitted to receiving a total of $35,218 as a result of his fraudulent representations and pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022, and faces up to 40 years in prison.