Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Casdorph entered a guilty plea to the felony offense of Mail Fraud, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Casdorph, 58, of  Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia faces up to 20 years of incarceration when he is be sentenced on May 1, 2019.  He will also be required to pay restitution to the law firm where he was previously employed.  United States Attorney Mike Stuart praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service  and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

“It’s hard enough to run a business without employees stealing from you,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “My office is committed to protecting the business community from fraudsters like Casdorph.”

Casdorph previously worked at a Charleston, West Virginia law firm and land company as both a runner and a driver.  In 2011, he was internally promoted to receive accounts and help manage money.  Casdorph devised a scheme to defraud the law firm by including personal bills within the bills that the law firm was required to pay.   He would present a check for signature that included both the law firm/land company bill and his personal bills totaled together. These included power, water, cell phone, taxes and credit card bills.  Casdorph would then place the check in the mail.  This scheme went on for several years, lasting through 2016. Casdorph also used law firm monies to renovate his home.  Finally, Casdorph forged the name of a law firm member on three checks and gave it to a local builder to continue renovations on his home.  The total financial loss to the law firm was at least $54,402.  Casdorph is no longer employed by the law firm/land company.

Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution.  United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.

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