Harrison County contractor sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraud

CLARKSBURG, W.Va (WDTV) - A Harrison County contractor who defrauded over 70 customers out of more than half a million dollars was sentenced on Friday.

48-year-old Bradley Glaspell, of Salem, was sentenced to ten years behind bars after defrauding customers through his contacting business, according to United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

“Mr. Glaspell was a shady contractor who took advantage of West Virginians who paid him up front and trusted that he would do the job,” said United States Attorney Ihlenfeld. “His dishonesty caused many to be left with unfinished projects and I’m pleased that he will spend the next ten years behind bars.”

Glaspell the owner and operator of Over the Top Roofing, LLC, and Helping Hands Home Improvement, pled guilty in May 2022 in federal court to “Wire Fraud,” Ihlenfeld said.

Glaspell falsely advertised his businesses on social media, claiming to be a licensed contractor when in fact he was not.

Ihlenfeld said he required down payments for materials but then failed to complete the work as promised and used the money he collected for his own personal expenses.

The judge ordered Glaspell to pay $593,009.05 in restitution.

Glaspell’s victims were from Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Randolph, Ritchie, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur, and Wetzel counties in West Virginia, and Washington and Fayette counties in Pennsylvania.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The investigation was led by the West Virginia State Police and the Internal Revenue Service and supported by the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office. Numerous county prosecutor’s offices, sheriff’s departments, and police departments assisted with investigating the matter and the gathering of evidence.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the case.

FOR PRIOR COVERAGE

Local handyman behind bars for allegedly bilking customers out of thousands of dollars (8/26/21)

AG Morrisey seeks repayment of more than $400k from Marion Co. contractor (4/8/22)

Harrison County contractor pleads guilty to fraud (5/10/22)

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