ELKINS — The Grand Jury will hear the case against a local pastor accused of selling vehicles to customers that were under bank liens after he waived his preliminary hearing.

Curlie Eugene Ray Jr., 55, of Beverly, is charged with one count of fraudulent schemes, a felony. He is currently being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond. Ray serves as the senior pastor of Tygart Valley Ministries, Beverly Community Church.

On Monday, Ray appeared in Randolph County Magistrate Court and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His case will now be brought before the Randolph County Grand Jury for consideration.

Before the waiver was accepted by Randolph County Magistrate Benjamin Shepler, Ray’s attorney, James Fox, asked the court to modify Ray’s bond from $50,000 cash-only to a property bond. Fox called the amount “punitive” and argued that Ray was not a flight risk due to being a “life long resident” of Randolph County, as well as a local pastor and land owner. He further stated that the case against Ray was a property crime, did not involve any violent acts and that Ray had turned himself in.

Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Leckta Poling argued against modifying Ray’s bond, voicing the state’s concerns regarding ties Ray reportedly had in Virginia. She also informed the court that, since Ray was charged, police had reportedly been contacted by 33 more individuals regarding possible fraudulent acts Ray committed.

Shepler denied the defense’s motion to modify Ray’s bond, citing his own concerns regarding public safety against fraud.

According to a criminal complaint filed by West Virginia State Police, A.P. Petrella, Ray allegedly sold three vehicles from Curlie Ray’s Auto Sales in Beverly, that were already under bank liens. On June 3, Petrella was assigned an investigation into the purchases.

According to the complaint, Trooper First Class K.C. Raymond, of the Franklin Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, obtained a statement from the first alleged victim. They told the officer that she obtained a loan in the amount of $6,950 from Mountain Valley Bank and paid a $1,500 down payment for a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The alleged victim was told it would take two weeks to deliver the car due to inspections and to replace the transmission.

“Victim 1 advised she had made three loan payments of $193.94 and has made two insurance payments of $582.61,” Petrella writes in the complaint. “Victim 1 advised she contacted numerous times about taking possession of the vehicle.”

According to the complaint, Ray allegedly said he would pay the loan at the bank and stop the loan, but the alleged victim attempted to deposit a check given to them by Ray, but was unable to do so due to insufficient funds. The alleged victim told police Ray had traveled to their residence and gave them $3,020 in cash and another check for $480 that also could not be deposited due to insufficient funds. The complaint states the alleged victim is owed $5,430 not including the amount paid on the loan and insurance.

According to the complaint, Petrella found that the Nissan Sentra was sold while it was still under lien to Mountain Valley Bank and the alleged victim is owed approximately $6,595.22.

According to the complaint, on June 4, Petrella received a second complaint from a second alleged victim. The alleged victim told the officer they purchased a 2020 Ford F250 from Ray and after 90 days requested information about the title. The second alleged victim told the officer that Ray had purchased the vehicle from Car Max and then sold it to them. That alleged victim told officers they paid $2,486.50 as a down payment and obtained a loan for $39,000 to pay for the vehicle.

Petrella writes in the complaint that he contacted CarMax and was advised Ray purchased the 2020 Ford F250 on May 4, 2024 and Ray still owed $52,886.16 and was in repossession. According to the complaint, Ray allegedly owes a combined $94,732.66 to the second alleged victim and CarMax.

The complaint states Petrella was referred a third alleged victim by the Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on June 5. The third alleged victim allegedly bought a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado from Ray. That alleged victim told the officer she traded in a vehicle toward the purchase and paid $26,119.68 for the Silverado. That alleged victim still owed $7,500 on the trade and that Ray paid the balance and accepted the vehicle.

According to the complaint, Petrella contacted AAA Auto Sales of Miami, Florida, about the Chevrolet Silverado . The owner of the business told the officer Ray had purchased the vehicle on Dec. 1, 2025, for $19,500 and made a down payment if $8,500 via CashApp but did not pay the remaining balance of $11,000. Ray allegedly owes a total of $44,619.18 to the third alleged victim and AAA Auto Sales.

According to the complaint, Ray allegedly owes a total of $145,947.56 to the alleged victims and the officer has another five alleged victims reporting the same crime.