VA worker, 13 others charged in fraud scheme

If they are found guilty, they should have to face the families of the disabled veterans who had their claims denied and ended up killing themselves. Face the veterans who ended up homeless because their claims were not taken care of. Face the kids who waited for help for their parent and none came in time to save the family. If they are guilty of this, they should have to travel across the country handcuffed to chairs so they have to listen to the veterans who trusted them. Then they can go to jail!

VA worker, 13 others charged in fraud scheme

By Brett Barrouquere - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 20, 2008 16:37:08 EST

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Veterans Administration employee and 13 other people have been charged with conspiring to steal nearly $2 million in disability claims.

Veterans Affairs service representative Jeffrey Allan McGill and Daniel Ryan Parker, a veteran and officer with the Disabled American Veterans, were among the 14 charged Wednesday by a federal grand jury with conspiring to defraud the U.S. of $1.9 million through the submission of false veterans disability claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The indictment outlines an alleged scheme for veterans to falsely claim to have suffered from bipolar disorder, hearing loss, frostbite, back injuries and other ailments and disabilities.

The indictment says veterans received lump-sum payments for back pay and then kick backed as much as two-thirds of it to Parker and McGill.

“They’re all veterans,” U.S. Attorney David Huber said at a news conference Thursday. “That’s what’s sad about all of this.”

Parker, 37, of Crestwood, is free on $25,000 bond. He is also charged with stealing $47,000 from Disabled American Veterans. His attorney, Brian Butler of Louisville, said his client plans to plead not guilty.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_vafraudscheme_112008/