State Treasurer Larry Pack visited Kingwood on Thursday, June 25 to present the Preston County Commission and Preston County Sheriff’s Office with separate unclaimed property checks totaling more than $100,000.

“My Office is thrilled to return these unclaimed property funds to Preston County. County budgets are typically very tight, so it’s important to get this money back to our local leaders so they can better serve their communities,” Treasurer Pack said. “I’m proud of the hard work that’s been put in by our entire team to ensure our citizens, businesses and other organizations are reconnected with their lost funds. This is the people’s money, and we’re working diligently to get it back to them.”

The Preston County Commission received a check valued at $58,779.85. The money came from various stale dated check from state agencies including the West Virginia Department of Health and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office.

“We will put this money to good use,” Preston County Commission President Don Smith said. “There’s always needs that will come about so getting a check for over $58,000 will go a long way whether it be facility improvements or whatever it will make a big difference. We’re very grateful.”

The Preston County Sheriff’s Office received a check valued at $42,087.75. The money came from the Treasurer’s Office’s online firearms auction held in April. The Sheriff’s Office sold 212 firearms that they once had stored in their evidence rooms.

“These (firearms) are from the late 1980s or early 1990s that have been here, and I’ve been able to go through and get cleaned up. Without this program, they would have remained with us forever,” Preston County Chief Deputy J.G. Rodeheaver said. “Some of the money will be used toward a Rainy Day Fund and we want to buy new patrol rifles that will probably pay the majority of it.” 

State and local law enforcement agencies are allowed to turn over any unclaimed, seized or outdated firearms in their possession to the Treasurer’s Office for auction.

Since taking office in January, Treasurer Pack has returned $17.6 million to individuals, businesses and organizations across West Virginia. Since it began in 1967, the Unclaimed Property program has returned more than $350 million to rightful owners.

The State Treasurer’s Office now has more than $476 million worth of listings in its database.

Since the fiscal year began on July 1, 2024, the Office’s Unclaimed Property Division has returned more than $40 million to rightful owners, surpassing the $28 million that was returned to rightful owners during Fiscal Year 2024.

For more information about the unclaimed property program or to find out if the Office is holding any money for you, visit www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov.