| 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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