CHARMCO West Virginia – The West Virginia State Police have charged a Greenbrier County couple with an alleged financial fraud scheme that resulted in more than $36,000 in unauthorized withdrawals from an elderly woman’s bank account.
Steven Simpson and Ashley Simpson of Charmco are accused of illegally withdrawing funds from an 82-year-old woman’s account over a 16-month period, using banking information obtained while performing contract work at her home, according to a criminal complaint filed.
The investigation began on January 8, 2025, after the victim reported suspicious activity on her City National Bank account. A review of bank records revealed 103 fraudulent Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions worth around $36,454. Authorities said the funds were used to pay credit cards, utility companies, and a mortgage lender connected to the Simpsons and two other people, Larry and Sheri Alderman.
According to police, the Simpsons moved into a home near the victim’s residence in 2023 and quickly became acquainted with her and her late husband, who died in November 2024. The couple hired the Simpsons, who worked as contractors under the name Total Home & Lawn Solutions, to complete a variety of home improvement projects. The work lasted until April 2024, and in May, the victims paid a final fee of $3,800 after the Simpsons allegedly threatened them with a mechanic’s lien.
On December 23, 2025, the victim received an automated notification from City National Bank about an overdraft in her account. She discovered unauthorized ACH payments in the names of Steven Simpson, Ashley Simpson, Larry Alderman, and Sheri Alderman. The transactions were associated with payments for services such as Optimum, Capital One, AT&T, First Premier, Concora Credit, Mastercard, Carrington Mortgage, and BrightSpeed.
Authorities noted that a basic paper check contains all of the information required to initiate ACH transactions, allowing the suspects to access the funds without the victim’s knowledge. The victim and her family gave the West Virginia State Police all of the documents they received from City National Bank, which detailed fraudulent charges.
During a police interview on February 13, Ashley Simpson admitted to using banking information from the victim’s checks to initiate fraudulent transactions. She also admitted to making payments on behalf of the Aldermans using the victim’s account information. Simpson gave investigators documents confirming her admission. While she couldn’t remember the specifics of each transaction, she did review a detailed record of the fraudulent charges and stated that she believed it was correct.
Steven Simpson, on the other hand, denied any direct involvement and claimed to be unaware of his wife’s actions. However, investigators discovered that over $15,000 in fraudulent transactions were credited to accounts in his name. When questioned, Steven admitted that he and Ashley were experiencing financial difficulties at the time, but claimed that he “never discussed how household bills were being paid.”
Authorities are still investigating whether additional individuals were involved in the fraudulent activities. Financial crime experts warn that elderly people are frequently targeted for such schemes because they trust service providers and use traditional banking methods, making them vulnerable to fraud.
Steven and Ashley Simpson were charged with computer fraud, financial exploitation of an elderly person, and fraudulent schemes. If convicted, they could face severe penalties, including restitution and possible prison time. The case is still being investigated by the West Virginia State Police, and additional charges may be filed as more information becomes available.
Officials urge anyone who suspects financial fraud to immediately notify their local law enforcement agency or financial institution. Victims of fraud can also seek help from consumer protection organizations and legal counsel to recover lost funds and avoid future incidents.
