UNIONTOWN - An instructor at a Fayette County business school, already facing charges in an alleged investment scam, is facing new allegations that he duped another student at the school and her grandparents.
Kevin Barry O'Rourke, a business and investment instructor at the West Virginia Business Institute in North Union Township, already faced a preliminary hearing on allegations he deceived a student out of $10,000. He was arraigned on the new charges Wednesday before District Justice Deberah Kula and released on bond. O'Rourke, 47, of 563 Gans-Woodbridge Road, Smithfield, was charged Wednesday with theft by deception, deceptive or fraudulent business practices, and writing bad checks.
State police at Uniontown identified the most recent victims as Pamela Rutherford, of Uniontown, who is a student at the school, and her grandparents, Mildred and Herbert Snyder, of Uniontown.
According to affidavits of probable cause, O'Rourke convinced Rutherford to invest a total of $5,000 in a currency market that was to return almost 10 percent, but did not return her initial investment after he paid her about $1,500 in interest payments. It is further alleged that she loaned him $2,000 to invest in the stock market and that a check from O'Rourke in partial repayment of the loan bounced because of insufficient funds.
According to the affidavit in the Snyder case, Mildred Snyder asked her granddaughter to set up a meeting with O'Rourke to discuss investments. He allegedly advised the couple he would invest their money in a currency exchange program that would yield 8.15 percent interest. The couple allegedly gave O'Rourke a total of $25,000 and received two interest payments totaling $945, but did not receive their initial investment back as promised.
It also is alleged that Mildred Snyder loaned O'Rourke $3,000 and that he repaid her $1,000 in cash, but that two of his repayment checks bounced.
In December, O'Rourke allegedly told the Snyders that he was broke but would repay money in February.
Trooper James Garlick, the arresting officer, said the school was not involved in the investment program.
Police are asking anyone having similar business dealings with O'Rourke to contact Garlick at 724-439-7111.
