WHEELING, W.Va. — A roofing and general contractor was sentenced to 12 months in prison Tuesday for insurance fraud and failing to report cash payments to employees.
McMechen resident Stephen Gretchen, 45, knowingly under-reported wages and tips that he paid his employees, paying certain employees in cash off the books.
The investigation also showed that he deliberately caused damage to a camping trailer to collect the insurance money. He falsely filed a claim for the damage, claiming that it was caused by a hit-and-run accident.
Gretchen collected nearly $28,000 dollars in the false claim.