BECKLEY, W.Va. — A Raleigh County man who served as chief of the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department has resigned after a federal investigation opened late last week.
Documents allege Michael Cowger stole an estimated $20,000 between April 2011 and August 2017. He also worked during that time with the Beckley Fire Department and was a part-time instructor for WVU’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
The money comes from requests he submitted for travel expenses including lodging, travel and food. Cowger would allegedly charge those expenses to all three employers at once.
The Beaver Volunteer Fire Department announced Monday that Cowger had officially resigned. Firefighter Jason Redden has been chosen to serve as interim Fire Chief.
Charges were filed on Friday, June 1 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.