Department of Administration
Department of Administration
Department of Administration

West Virginia Ethics Commission Issues Public Reprimand

2/2/2017
  
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Ethics Commission has issued today a public reprimand and assessed a fine as part of a settlement agreement with James Eli Rubenstein, Commissioner of the Division of Corrections and former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
           
During a meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2017, the Commission approved a Conciliation Agreement with Rubenstein in which he admitted that he had violated the West Virginia Governmental Ethics Act by requesting and receiving reimbursement from the state for a hotel stay in Charleston on February 9, 2015, and by accepting the use of an apartment in Charleston.  The apartment was owned by a member of a company which also owned a company which was a vendor of the Division of Corrections. The individual is also an owner and officer of a second company which is a subcontractor to Wexford Health Sources, Inc., a corporation which has a contract with the state for the provision of health care services to the Division of Corrections.
          
In addition to the public reprimand, the Commission ordered Rubenstein to pay a $7,000 fine and to reimburse the Division of Corrections for the $138.25 hotel bill.
 
The Conciliation Agreement may be viewed on the Commission’s website at www.ethics.wv.gov.

Contact:

Rebecca Stepto
304.558.0664
Rebecca.L.Stepto@wv.gov