BECKLEY, W.Va. — A new date has been set for the next scheduled court appearance for a Raleigh County pharmacist who allegedly ran a Ponzi scheme.
Natalie Cochran, 38, of Daniels, was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court Tuesday for a pre-trial hearing but it’s been reset for May 5.
Cochran is accused of wire fraud, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, aggravated identity theft and other crimes. According to a 26-count federal indictment handed up last September, Cochran and her late husband collected money from family members, friends and other investors to help her two companies, Tactical Solutions Group and Technology Management Solutions, which she allegedly claimed were involved in government contracts.
Investigators allege Cochran lied about her companies getting the contracts and was never awarded any contracts from the federal government, though she was awarded two state contracts that later were voided for lack of performance.
Cochran’s trial is currently scheduled to begin May 26.