A four-count federal indictment outlines allegations against a West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources supervisor. Timothy Priddy has been charged with making false statements during an investigation to determine if vendors providing COVID tests and related services to West Virginia were overbilled or fraudulently received payments from federal funds distributed through the DHHR, according to an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Charleston.
The indictment said Priddy was tasked with verifying and certifying vendor invoices before funds could be released for payment. Investigators noted a significant disparity between the number of COVID-19 tests billed to the DHHR and the number of tests reported to the online portal. The difference spurred a grand jury investigation focused on wire fraud, theft and money laundering. Donnie Haynes has been named the interim director for the Center for Threat Preparedness while Priddy is on a leave of absence.