Morgantown business owner ordered to federal prison for broadband funding fraud

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Morgantown business owner has been sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for fraud associated with a local broadband provider.

Timothy Chad Henson, 35, former owner of Clearfiber, Inc., received $1.96 million in funding through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide high-speed internet services in Monongalia and Marion Counties. Through the USDA Community Connect Program, Henson then submitted false invoices to the USDA for more than $340,000 and transferred $322,900 into a personal bank account.

Henson has also been ordered to pay $1,401,849.06 in restitution.

Henson will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.