WHEELING — The owner of Elkins Memorial Gardens cemetery and several others throughout the state has pleaded guilty to taking money intended for grave markers.

Jeffery Phares, 65, of Fayetteville, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court in Wheeling. U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced the plea in a press release Thursday morning.

According to the release, Phares owned and operated four cemeteries, including Elkins Memorial Gardens in Elkins, Greenlawn Memorial Park in New Martinsville, Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Clarksburg, and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Jane Lew.

“Phares defrauded customers by accepting payments and design approvals for grave markers, then misappropriated the funds for personal use,” the release states. “He repeatedly misled victims regarding delivery delays, resulting in an estimated total loss between $250,000 and $550,000.”

According to the release, as part of the plea agreement, Phares has agreed to pay restitution to the victims and provide the government with all the documentation to determine the amount that will be determined prior to sentencing. He faces 20 years in prison and a federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The FBI, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office investigated the case. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided over the hearing.