Suspended DHHR Supervisor Pleads Not Guilty

A former West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) supervisor indicted in a federal grand investigation appeared in a federal court Thursday. 

Timothy Priddy, former director of the DHHR’s Center for Threat Preparedness, was suspended after he allegedly lied about the verification process for millions of dollars of COVID-19 test supply kits.

Priddy appeared in the U.S. District Court Thursday in Charleston after being indicted on four criminal counts.

According to the indictment, an out-of-state vendor submitted nearly $45 million dollars in invoices for more than 500,000 covid test kits. However, only 50,000 test results were reported by the vendor between October 2020 and March 2022.

Priddy is accused of lying about the audit process during an interview with an FBI agent and a U.S. Postal Inspector and later making false statements before a grand jury.

During his court appearance Thursday, Priddy entered a not guilty plea and was freed on a $10,000 unsecured bond. His trial date is set for Dec. 19.

Following Priddy’s indictment the Senate Finance Committee continues to scrutinize a number of administration and state agency spending issues.

“There are investigations that are still out there,” Senate Finance Committee Chair Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said.  “As they go forward, you’re going to see more and more of these types of indictments.”