Former West Virginia health official Timothy Priddy has been sentenced to one year of probation after lying to federal investigators about verifying vendor bills for COVID-19 testing services. Priddy, who worked for the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources, approved invoices totaling over $34 million without making any verification efforts.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into the invoices submitted by a vendor under state programs providing COVID-19 testing to West Virginia schools and Emergency Medical Services providers. However, Priddy falsely claimed that he had only certified invoices that had been verified by staff working with the state’s COVID-19 testing program for K-12 students and faculty members.
Prosecutors found that Priddy’s explanation was untrue and that he had made no efforts to check the accuracy of the K-12 testing program invoices before approving them. U.S. Attorney Will Thompson called Priddy’s failure to ensure proper expenditure of public funds “appalling.”
Furthermore, Priddy repeated his false claim before a federal grand jury, hindering investigators’ ability to determine whether the vendor had provided the services for which it had been paid. The DOJ stated that Priddy’s false statements made the probe more challenging, requiring significant resources to uncover the truth.
Despite the investigation, there is no evidence suggesting that Priddy colluded with the vendor or received financial benefits in exchange for approving the invoices. The DOJ believes that Priddy lied to conceal his dereliction of duty rather than protect the vendor or further its business.
Prior to this incident, Priddy served as deputy director at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. In this role, he was responsible for reviewing and verifying the accuracy of invoices from vendors supplying COVID-19 testing to the state. His manipulation of financial relief systems for personal gain and subsequent lies have been condemned by FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek.
In conclusion, Timothy Priddy’s probationary sentence highlights the consequences of his actions and the importance of transparency and accountability in public service. The investigation into the vendor’s invoices remains ongoing, and it serves as a reminder of the need for diligent oversight to ensure the proper use of public funds.
