Our military personnel put their lives on the line for ordinary Americans every day. When they leave military service, they become veterans. In my book, the word ‘veteran’ should be synonymous with the word ‘honor’. They deserve our trust and our thanks; and when they need help our government has programs to do so. Sadly, some among us take advantage of these heroes by defrauding the programs there to help them. Today’s Fraud of the Day focuses on such a betrayal of trust; it’s about how a couple from Louisiana and Mississippi embarked on a decade-long plot to steal nearly $200,000 in Veterans’ benefits. (Please take your seats—it’s going to be a bumpy fraud.)
The couple based their scheme to steal benefits meant for soldiers returning from deployment around a kernel of truth: The 67-year-old husband had, at one point, served in the U.S. Air Force. (He should have known that fraud is not going to fly.) But he lied on his application by not reporting that his wife had been working and receiving an annual income of more than $50,000—a violation that enabled the couple to collect $197,784 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs between July of 2003 and November of 2013. This man’s theft of government funds is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. (Buckle up for a rough landing.)For her conspiracy to aid and abet this theft, the wife was looking at up to five years in the slammer.
But when their fraud took a nose dive, the former airman pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property or funds, while his wife pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit that same offense. Both were sentenced to one year in federal prison, followed by two years of probation, and ordered to repay the $197,784 they stole. (Hmmm. Dinner on a small tray surrounded by strangers in very cramped quarters with the possibility of turbulence—sounds about right.)
Veterans sacrifice so much to protect our freedom. It’s hard to imagine that one of them would dishonor that sacrifice by taking more than he was entitled, especially knowing it was coming out of the pockets of his fellow vets. It’s only fitting that this couple lose their freedom, even if only temporarily, in return.
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