Notorious Con Man Bigamist, William Michael Barber, to be Released in March

DUPED WOMEN FURIOUS

from the New York Daily News
By  JEANE MacINTOSH

A notorious bigamist — pegged by New Jersey authorities as a lifelong scammer who's likely to strike again — is slated to be sprung from a Garden State prison just months into a three-year sentence, The Post has learned.

"I was told he'll be moved to a halfway house in March," said Diana Barber, one of at least four women who were duped into marrying the convicted con, William Michael Barber.

"I just don't understand how it could happen."

Neither can the silver-haired schemer's latest wife and victim, Joyce Reynolds, who was alerted to the planned move in a Jan. 14 e-mail from Diana.

"It's outrageous," Reynolds said. "I am angry, I'm frightened, I'm stunned."

A spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Corrections could not confirm any planned move.

Reynolds — who estimates Barber, 53, bilked her out of more than $60,000 — helped put her shady ex behind bars after he was busted in June in Wharton, N.J., on a slew of criminal fraud charges, including falsifying his marriage license to her.

"I was lied to by Michael, and then I put my faith in the judicial system, and look what's happened," said Reynolds, who was part of negotiations for the guilty plea Barber copped in September.

"I feel like I've been duped all over again."

Barber — who has 19 aliases and a 35-year, six-state criminal history that includes two prison stints and a bigamy conviction — pleaded guilty to filing a false marriage license.

In return, New Jersey prosecutors dropped a dozen other criminal charges. Barber was sentenced in October to three years in prison.

"I was led to believe, during the negotiations, that he'd spend at least 18 months in jail," Reynolds said of her ex, who, records show, is now in minimum security at Bayside State Prison in south Jersey and is eligible for parole April 21.

"If they let him out to a halfway house in March, he'll be allowed to get a job, he'll have access to a computer," she said. "Within a week, he'll have a plan to con someone else — if he doesn't already."

Diana Barber — who is owed $50,000 in child support from the con — said she was told of the planned move by her Missouri child-support caseworker in mid-January.

"She was informed by New Jersey officials and told me," Diana said.

A Corrections spokeswoman said she could not confirm Diana's information but said there is "nothing" in Barber's file that suggests an imminent move.

However, another spokesman said that given Barber's approaching parole-eligibility date, the information given to Diana Barber might be valid.

After his latest arrest, it emerged that Barber had served a six-year sentence in a Missouri prison for passing bad checks and did time at Leavenworth, Kansas, for desertion from the Army.

Reynolds, who has been in contact with Barber's other victimized wives, said they're all convinced Barber will "vanish" if he's released to a halfway house.

"Let's face it, he was a deserter from the Army — to walk away from a halfway house, for him, that's nothing," Reynolds said.

At Barber's New Jersey sentencing, Assistant Morris County Prosecutor Joseph D'Onofrio said, "There's a saying, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks.' Mr. Barber has committed these tricks his whole life. When he gets out, he'll probably go back to the same thing."

Meanwhile, Reynolds has a restraining order against the con, but puts little faith in the piece of paper.

"I'm frightened of him, and scared for my family," she said. "There's no telling how angry he might be.

"And it won't be hard for him to find me — that's what he does."

Comments

[Susan Bobo Barber]

I met Chris Barber in Hot Springs,Arkansas in 1974. He told me that he was taking a break from college and traveling the country. He swept me off my feet, married me, and we moved to Houston, Texas, where I was from. I had a two year old son, and was not living with his father. I was single, just as Chris was. He went through many jobs in Houston, mostly sales. We were married two years, even though I had gradually learned that most of what he had told me about himself was a lie, even the name. His name was William Michael Barber. His parents came to Houston to meet me, and I also went to Missouri to visit them with "Chris". his brother's name was Rick,I think. We also went to San Antonio,Texas to see his sister and her children and husband on an Air Force base. During our marriege, we even went to see a clinical psychiatrist. She told me that he was a pathological liar and that I needed to get away from him. I did finally leave him when he took my son to a 17 year old girl's house for a week-end without my permission. She was also betrayed by him. I believe her name was Janna Scott. He had to leave Houston because he had stolen money from the insurance company where he worked. Three years later i remarried and have been married to the same man for 33 years now. I thank God that I had no children with him. He is delusional and needs mental heath help bigtime. He was charming, good-looking and knew how to woo women.Ladies, beware. And Michael, get some help before your life is over.

[NOVA Residnet]

I'm not 100% certian but I just watched a program about him on 48hours, I could not help noticing a very similar looking man to someone I had met when I was only 14 in 1988. I just thought I would put in my two cents and see if anyone remembers him being in the Northern Virginia area then. He was extrememly handsome and met him while partying at a popular lake in Northern Virginia area for teens to hang out (Lake Manassas). He introduced himself as Michael and I remember his gleaming blue eyes. He said he was in medical school but his roommates screwed him over and he didn't have a place to stay that night. He was a very handsome guy who claimed he was only 22. He looked slightly older to me but we didn't care he was old enough to buy us beer and we trusted him back then. So he followed us to Greg's house where he stayed for about a month. He stayed at my friend Greg P.'s house and he partied with us teens, he seemed like he was one of us. He had sex with my friend Jenny J. who was only 15 at the time. They were sort of seeing each other for about 2 weeks maybe 3 and he said he was going to marry her. He bought us beer and things we shouldn't have had back then. A few days later Jenny & Michael went to get her mother's approval to get married and it was REJECTED, however they still snuck around and saw each other for a few more days. They had plans to run off to West Virginia to get married on Jenny's 16th birthday which was just a couple weeks away. One day he just vanished taking clothing, shoes, money, jewelry, walkman, etc from Gregs house and no one saw him again. Here it is 20 something years later and I can't help thinking it is him from the photos on tv and the descrption. I came online searched and found this site with many others and I emailed them to Jenny who really lost a part of herself too young due to it would seem this man. Jenny can't help thinking it is him either and is thanking God her mom was a responsible parent. While I realize this is not exactly his style I can't help noticing some similarities either.

[Kathy]

Wow, I am in shock. I dated Christopher William Michael Barber in college in Columbia Missouri...1973-1975. Fell in love, talked of marrying him and then got a call from his parole officer (if i remember correctly) who filled me in. He was passing bad checks and was put back into jail for a time. Two years later after I graduated he called again, promising to tell me truths and started to lie again. He got me twice!! Very, very charming and handsome especially then. I am so very sorry for the pain he has caused all those who came after me. I just googled him out of curiosity and found his path of devastation. My heart goes out to all of you, wish I could have forseen this. Oh my goodness, I am in shock.

[Concerned]

He has hit again! He is in Archbald, Pennsylvania. The woman will NOT believe anything anyone has to say. They aren't married yet. We want to prevent that if we can, but how do we get her away from him???

[texanrose]

Yes, it is true Barber has another victim, but whether or not she is a victim is the question. She thinks that he has changed and that she is just the woman to change him. She contacted me numerous times, but in reality she was attacking me. Sounds so familiar. Blame the victim, not the predator... I always assumed that you cannot change a person, but you can only change yourself. I hope that still is the truth. I truly believe that since he managed to get a vehicle out of her, how much money has he conned out of her, besides living with her....that is what he does and he still hasn't changed. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't believe a victim, and I am not the only victim of Barber, and will not be the last.

[W]

I know where he is. He now has a new victim. Good try Mr. Whoever you are. I must say you did pull the wool over my eyes but not for long. It will be only a matter of time before you screw with the wrong people that take justice in thier own hands.

[Heather]

My aunt met this guy when he was serving time in Cameron. He gave her the "I'm a surgeon" song and dance and that he was in for assaulting a cop...not passing bad checks. Oh, he was also in a wheelchair at the time. He got out, stayed with my aunt for a couple months. I guess until he figured that my family wasn't buying into his financial dreams of making big money, he skipped out to Kansas City. The next time we heard about him was on Current Affair when they ran a story on the Don Juan of Con.

He prays upon women with low esteem and tells them all the pretty words they want to hear. While my aunt might have lived alone on a fixed income, she could cut through BS better than anyone I know. The most he ever got out of her was a bus ticket he never used, and a free haircut out of me. Compared to his other victims, my aunt got out relatively unscathed.

I feel sorry for the women he's duped. Just goes to show you can never, ever be too vigilant against con artists.

[Joyce]

JUST AN UPDATE on the arrest of William Micheal Barber. The person he went to visit, the person who notified the police he was there in Missouri was taken into custody for HARBOURING A FUGITIVE. This person was supposed to tell Barber "Have a seat while I notify the police that you are here, then we can chat". Like that would of happened? I think not. If Barber knew that the police were going to be notified he would of been gone in a flash. This person ended up hiring an Attorney so to get herself free of the charges. How is that any person linked to William Micheal Barber is always the one who pays the consequences and he gets off scott free. Missouri screwed up when they arrested Barber in Missouri, THEY FORGOT TO READ HIM HIS RIGHTS! Therefore, Missouri can't charge him with anything. He is still being held for the warrant issued out of New Jersey. Rumor has it that Missouri will not be charging Barber with anything. Even though he tried to pass himself off as someone else. He showed identification with someone elses name. ROBERT ALLEN KROON is his new name. Remember it incase you meet up with him. It's beyond me how a man like that keeps getting so many chances with the law!

[Donna]

Interesting that Barber has not changed one iota. You see, ever since he left me, in 2001, I had tried to warn Joyce, and I went to authorities. The authorities told me that I couldn't do a thing unless he came back to MO. I thought that he would never go back to MO. But he did. Which is a good thing for me. I can get justice.

He used my social security number also, he used a lot of people's social security numbers. He had a way of accessing social security numbers: he had them on the drivers that worked for Raintree Transportation, Barber Associate, the trucking companies he put together using my name as the CEO, Barber knows exactly what he was doing, that is what he does: sets up businesses using other people just like he used Joyce and the Donnellans. He used the Rolling Thunder people, and he is flippant about it. He thinks he is above the law. Unfortunately he has been doing this for over 35 years, and will continue to do so. However, I hope that MO will not allow him to be extradited back to Mo, because he will get longer jail time than 3 years from MO. He is a repeat offender, a parole violator, a thief and a fraud. He is a predator, and will never ever change his spots. NJ did not listen to me when I called and tried to warn his last victim. I did everything that I could do, his sister tried to do everything that she could do. But apparently he convinced authorities that he was not the man that I said he was, or she said he was. He is that good. So people I have been wanting this man in jail for almost 6 years, and now maybe with my patience, my insistence, and the charges from Missouri, will allow this man to stay home for the holidays, in a nicely decorated with bars room. The victims will get closure some day. I hope I will soon. I want to make sure that he will never ever have a chance to con another person out of money, love, or identity. Donna

[Joyce]

I was William Barber's Last wife. I had him sent to jail but our great judicial system decided he wasn't a threat to anyone so he was released early. Recently while on parole here in NJ Barber left and decided to take a bus trip. He went to see a family member. For some strange reason Barber thought he would be welcomed with open arms, instead he was welcomed with handcuffs. He is now sitting in Hillsborough Jail in Missouri until NJ has him extradited where he will finish his time. Supposedly Missouri wants him back. When he was arrested Barber used yet another name. His identification was a birth certificate and a social security card. The police even said they looked authentic. He is not a threat? He used my social security while we were married, now he uses someone elses. I am still dealing with the mess he left me in, now some poor soul who probably doesn't even know him will suffer. Where is the justice? When does the state finally say " enough is enough?" Or don't they? Hmmmmmmmmm

[Donna]

Remember it wasn't just 4 wives but a possibility of up to 12 some of the women did not want to come forward: there were only 4 of us that went public. Also remember he doesn't just con women, he cons business associates, and business people, he conned his own boss in St. Louis, and he conned his partners in FRTF, who were private investigators, and bail bonds persons. HE CONNED too many people. PLEASE anyone who reads about him forward the information to as many people as you can. He has conned people in as many as possibly 20 states, that is almost half of the United States. He has had 35 years to perfect his game, and ten to one he has not one victim picked out but more than one. I found a list of 20 women of which Joyce #2 was on, that he planned to run to from me, because he was afraid his con was up in Kansas City. Weird what information you find out about your person you loved once they leave. Tangled webs of deceit, and not an ounce of remorse. Thank you Sandra and anyone else that helps keep his face public, that means less victims to his roster.