Individual Sentenced to Over Ten Years for Elder Financial Fraud

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Samuel Kristofer Bunner, 51, formerly of Ranson, West Virginia, was sentenced today to a total of 121 months in federal prison for defrauding a Jefferson County man who suffered from dementia.

Bunner pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in February 2024. According to court documents, Bunner defrauded the victim of $1,906,229 by selling his real estate, emptying his investment and bank accounts, and opening a credit card in his name. Bunner used the money taken from the victim for his benefit, purchasing homes, campers, cars, and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of consumer goods.

Bunner was ordered to pay $1,906,229 in restitution to the victim. He will serve 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. 

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The Jefferson County, WV Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida, and FBI-Tampa assisted with the matter.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.