WHEELING, W.V. -- Local entrepreneur Gary West purchased the Roadworthy Tavern and Inn in West Liberty from the U.S. Marshals Service for $1.2 million at an auction last week, money that will go to help pay off a $5 million restitution order for the former CEO of Center Valley FCU who used credit unions funds to buy the restaurant.
Plans call for West Liberty University to operate the property's restaurant and tavern while West, a major benefactor to the school, maintains ownership. West said he plans to build cabins in addition to the six already located on the 36-acre property. He also said he will lease some of the land to gas drilling companies.
The restaurant was among the properties financed by Bernie Metz, the credit union CEO, who was sentenced last year to nine years in prison for a fraud that drained as much as $9 million from the credit union.
Metz, 60, used credit union funds to buy and renovate the Inn and to pay off her family's credit cards, finance improvements on her house, and buy cars for herself, her husband and children, including a vintage Thunderbird and three Mercedes Benzes. Her husband and two adult children also were implicated in the embezzlement but were not charged under a plea agreement with the one-time CEO.
NCUA, which paid out an estimated $16 million from the National CU Share Insurance Fund on the fraud, will be the beneficiary of any proceeds from the sale
