PRINCETON, W.Va. (WVVA) – A 53-year-old Princeton man, Robert Brian Whitlow, is facing felony charges after allegedly scamming an elderly woman out of more than $11,000 for a driveway paving job that was never completed.
According to a criminal complaint, the incident began in June 2023 when a woman on Glenwood Park Road paid Whitlow $11,525 for paving services. She received a receipt marked “paid in full,” but the work was never done. Repeated attempts to contact Whitlow were unsuccessful.
The victim ultimately hired another company to complete the job, paying an additional $13,000 out of pocket.
Whitlow has been charged with:
Obtaining money under false pretense
Financial exploitation of an elderly person
A warrant for his arrest was issued on April 9, and he was arrested on June 21. He is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail on a $25,000 surety/cash bond.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1 in Mercer County Magistrate Court.
Officials are urging residents, especially seniors, to verify contractor credentials and payment terms before handing over large sums of money.
