West Virginia Man Sentenced To Eight Months After Helping Wife Fake Her Death
Rodney Wheeler, a 48-year-old Beckley, West Virginia man, has been sentenced to eight months for helping his wife, Julie Wheeler, fake her own death. Their motive? For Julie to avoid her own sentencing for health care fraud. Wheeler was sentenced on Monday (Apr. 5) after pleading guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice.
It’s reported that two of the eight-month sentence will be spent in a federal prison, with six months in home confinement, followed by three years supervised release. In May 2020, Wheeler called 911 to report that his wife had fallen off the Grandview Overlook, a 1,400-foot scenic area above water. Upon arrival, authorities launched a massive search and rescue operation based off Wheeler’s false statements.
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Two days after their search, authorities found Julie hiding in a closet in Wheeler’s home. Upon being taken into custody, the couple admitted to their epic failed attempt to disappear and avoid Julie’s federal sentencing in a health care fraud case. In February 2021, she was sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison for overbilling. Additionally, she was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $289,055.07.
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