A man has been arrested in a fraud investigation involving the Whittaker family of rural Raleigh County, who gained national attention through social media.
West Virginia State Police say 47-year-old John Patrick Roark was arrested Friday after an investigation that began in September. Troopers allege Roark exploited members of the Whittaker family by creating social media content for profit and keeping donations that were intended to help the family.
Roark faces multiple felony charges, including financial exploitation of an incapacitated person, fraudulent schemes, and fraudulent use of an access device. He’s currently being held on a 150-thousand-dollar bond.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, and no other arrests have been made.