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ELKINS -- Bond was modified Monday for a local pastor accused of selling vehicles to customers that were under bank liens.
Curlie Eugene Ray Jr., 55, of Beverly, is charged with one count of fraudulent schemes, a felony. Ray serves as the senior pastor of Tygart Valley Ministries, Beverly Community Church.
On Monday, Ray appeared in Randolph County Circuit Court for a bond modification hearing. James Fox, Ray’s attorney, asked Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth to modify Ray’s $50,000 cash-only bond to a $50,000 property bond. Fox argued that the original bond was “very unreasonable” for a fraudulent schemes charge, and that Ray was a life-long resident with family in the area, meaning there was “no suggestion whatsoever that he’s a flight risk” or a danger to the community.
Fox called the case against Ray “more of a civil matter.” He told the court that a party to the case, who Fox called “Customer A,” traded in her car to Ray, which had a bank lien on it that Ray had to pay off, and then purchased another car from Ray that also had a lien. Fox stated that “Customer A” never paid the down payment for the vehicle she bought from Ray and that the down payment was supposed to pay for the lien on the newly purchased car. Fox told the court that it was recently learned that “Customer A” didn’t sign the title for the vehicle she had traded in to Ray. Fox said that, after discovering this, they attempted to get her to sign the title, but they were reportedly informed that “Customer A” had been allegedly told by this case’s investigating officer “not to sign the title.” Fox stated that, if this is true, “Customer A” was being told to violate the same law that Ray is accused of breaking. He explained that he brought this up in court at that moment to argue that Ray should not be punished in advance.
Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Colin Henning, who represented the state, told the court he agreed that a cash-only bond was “pretty excessive” for a fraudulent schemes charge, and that the state had no objection to modifying the form of bond.
Wilmoth agreed to modify Ray’s bond to a $50,000 cash or property bond. If Ray makes bond, he will be required to check in with Community Corrections twice a week and can not have contact with any of the alleged victims in this case. Ray is also not permitted to engage in any type of wholesale transactions either as purchaser or seller.
Ray waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Randolph County Magistrate Court on June 15. His case will now be brought before a Randolph County Grand Jury for consideration.
According to a criminal complaint filed by A.P. Petrella of the West Virginia State Police, 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.
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, the complaint state.
During the June 15 preliminary hearing, Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Leckta Poling told the court that, since Ray was charged, police had reportedly been contacted by 33 more individuals regarding possible fraudulent acts Ray committed.