Smithfield man charged with fraud
DUNBAR TWP. – A Smithfield man has been charged with setting up a fictitious financial firm and deceiving an individual into investing a large sum of money. Kevin B. O’Rourke, 47, of 563 Gans-Woodbridge Road was arraigned before District Justice Dwight Shaner on charges of theft by deception and deceptive or fraudulent business practice.
According to state police, O’Rourke and the alleged victim, Dale Provance, met while attending West Virginia Career Institute.
O’Rourke informed Provance that he was a representative of Yawkey Financial and could get him an 8 percent interest rate for an investment of money.
Over an 18-month period, Provance gave O’Rourke about $5,500 to invest, said police.
After learning that others had lost money through a phony investment scam, Provance contacted O’Rourke and asked that his money be returned.
Police said that after being advised that Yawkey Financial was a fictitious company, a search warrant was served at O’Rourke’s home and information was found tying him to the fraudulent business.
O’Rourke faces a March 25 hearing before Shaner and remains free on a $5,000 recognizance bond.