Theft/Property — Wheeling, WV — reported 2026-07-15
KEY FACTS
- Incident type: Theft/Property
- Location: Wheeling, WV
- Date reported: 2026-07-15
- Suspect: age 48
- Victim(s): 1 ($30,750 payment)
- Status: arrest/charge
REPORTED DETAILS
- Terry Pierce, 48, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, has admitted to his involvement in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme.
- The person targeted the Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), a private nonprofit development corporation based in Wheeling, using a compromised email address.
- The perpetrator requested payment for solar panels installed on the former Horne’s Department Store building in Wheeling.
- Pierce received $30,750 and transferred it into another account he controlled and depleted the balance.
- The investigation revealed Pierce's involvement in additional fraudulent activity resulting in approximately $220,000 in actual or intended loss.