Mineral County attorney admits to fraud charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Timothy Mark Sirk, an attorney who lives in Keyser, West Virginia, has admitted a fraud charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Sirk, 62, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Wire Fraud.” Sirk, a court-appointed attorney in Mineral County, admitted to submitting at least 33 fraudulent pay vouchers for his alleged public defender legal services. He also admitted to forging the signature of a Circuit Court Judge when submitting these vouchers. Sirk obtained at least $26,152.68 fraudulently. The crime occurred from December 2016 to June 2018 in Mineral County.

Sirk faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.