Jeff S. Sandy for West Virginia House of Delegates District 11

Sandy's Career Overview

Jeff Sandy is a native of Wood County, with family roots tracing back to the exploration of the Mid-Ohio Valley in the mid-1700s. His seventh-generation grandfather, Colonel William Lowther, served as the first Sheriff of Wood County in 1799. Mr. Sandy’s father, Gerald E. Sandy, participated in the landing at Utah Beach in 1944 and was a member of General Patton’s renowned Blue Ridge Mountain Division, which reached the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne. Although his parents held high school diplomas, they ensured that all of their children pursued higher education and obtained college degrees.

Sandy attended Hamilton Junior High School and Parkersburg High School, then enrolled at Marshall University in the fall of 1976. Initially, Sandy intended to pursue a career as a K-12 teacher and dreamed of becoming Parkersburg High School's baseball coach. However, after being selected for an internship with the United States Treasury Department Intelligence Division which is now known as the Criminal Investigation Division during the first semester, Sandy changed majors to accounting. Taking the maximum number of courses permitted, Sandy graduated a semester early so he could attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in spring 1980.

Over a span of 25 years, special agent Sandy investigated and supervised cases involving fraud, narcotics, organized crime, and terrorism. Within 30 days of 9/11 Sandy was working at our nation’s 1st Fusion Center. In 2003, per an Executive Order from President George W. Bush Sandy entered Iraq. Sandy and others traced over $350 billion from the Iraqi banks that had been sent all over the world. He appeared on ABC news with Peter Jennings pertaining to his work in Iraq. Sandy was awarded West Virginia’s highest Award “The Distinguished West Virginian Award” from Governor Joe Manchin; and nationally, the Secretary of Treasury’s Honor Award and the Department of Defense Civilian Achievement Medal for his investigative achievements in Iraq. United States Army General K. W. Dayton provided the following commendation regarding Sandy:

“Sandy identified key front companies and bank accounts containing hidden assets of the former Iraqi Regime used to circumvent United Nations sanctions. He participated in high-risk, high-pressure missions to gather intelligence from sources, resulting in actionable outcomes. He conducted a comprehensive financial investigation into the sale of billions of dollars’ worth of Iraqi oil and petroleum products distributed across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Mr. Sandy employed all legal avenues to freeze former regime assets, thereby preventing their use by terrorist organizations.”

Upon retirement in 2005, Sandy received the Albert Gallatin Award for his 25 years of distinguished service with the United States Treasury.

After retiring from the US Treasury, Sandy worked for the Department of Justice's SLATT program, training in all 50 states, Israel, and Puerto Rico. He consulted on terrorism projects at nine major US banks and authored "Trace It," a financial investigation guide which was given free to over 144,000 prosecutors and law enforcement officials. With the permission of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Adams, the book was dedicated to their daughter, Mary Lou Hague who perished on 9/11.

In 2008 Sandy was elected Sheriff of Wood County, West Virginia. As sheriff, Sandy reduced concealed carry permits from 30 days to 24 hours; oversaw the construction of the Sheriff’s office within the new Wood County Justice Center, introduced intelligence-based law enforcement; introduced standardized weapons; and hired the sheriff’s department’s first intelligence analysts.

In 2016, Sandy was appointed by Governor Jim Justice as the Cabinet Secretary for Military Affairs and Public Safety. With the Governor’s support and leadership, he made major changes to the command structure which included the following:

· Combined prisons, jails, and juvenile corrections under a central leadership model.

· Centralized the finances by forming the Division of Administrative Services and placed Justice and Community Services within it.

· Formed the Legal Division

· Formed the Division of Emergency Management

· In 2020, the department was renamed the Department of Homeland Security to seek uniformity with our fellow states and federal government.

· Made all new Fire Marshal’s become certified law enforcement officers.

· Sandy conducted over two dozen special assignments for the Governor’s office

Upon retirement from the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, Governor Justice honored him with West Virginia’s highest award The Distinguished West Virginian Award and placed him on the West Virginia First Foundation to assist in the distribution of the states opiate settlements.

Sandy served as a founding partner at Perry Forensic, where his expertise in financial investigations led to the recovery of millions of dollars.

Sandy has received following major awards listed below:

· United States Attorney Award 1983

· United States Attorney General Award 1987

· US Treasury “Employee of the Year” 1991

· West Virginia Mid-Ohio Valley “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” 1993

· Achievement Award from the Presidential Organized Crime Task Force 2000

· United States Attorney General Award 2001

· Secretary of the Treasury John Snow Honor Award (Iraq) 2004

· Iraq Department of Defense Achievement Medal 2004

· United States Treasury Albert Gallatin Award 2005

· West Virginia Distinguished Mountaineer Award, Governor Manchin, 2005

· Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Commendation Medal 2009

· Marshall University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year 2012

· West Virginia FOP Lifetime Achievement Award 2018

· Wood County Honorary Deputy Sheriff 2020

· The Distinguished West Virginian Award, Governor Jim Justice 2023

· The Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion 2024

Sandy has lived in Vienna, West Virginia since 2000. He has two sons, Benjamin and Matthew, and a stepdaughter, Brittany Sellers. All are Marshall University graduates: Ben holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA (2011), Matt earned a BBA in Accounting (2013) and a master’s in accounting (2014); both are Certified Public Accountants. Brittany graduated in 2016 with a degree in special education. Sandy's spouse, Renee, works in financial risk management. In 2024, Sandy and his sons Benjamin and Matthew created the “Sandy Family” Endowment to support local students going Marshall University.

Sandy respectfully requests your support and vote in the 2026 Primary and General Election for the West Virginia House of Delegates, District 11.

Files coming soon.

Vote Jeff S. Sandy For West Virginia House of Delegates