Maryland VA official forged documents, obtained $1.4 million in benefits

U.S. Attorney: Former Maryland VA official forged documents, obtained $1.4 million in benefits
ABC 2 News
Amy Aubert
Dec 26, 2014

BALTIMORE - A 68-year-old U.S. Army veteran and former Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs official was charged with collecting $1.4 million in benefits fraudulently, according to the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

"I think it was a situation where he recognized that he had this authority that nobody is looking over his shoulder," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

Rosenstein says 68-year-old David Clark drafted fake letters and documents that made certain veterans appear to be eligible for a federal V.A. settlement program. Rosenstein said the V.A. started the program as an effort to settle claims of veterans suffering from diabetes. To be eligible for the up to $20,000 per year compensation, applicants have to be a veteran who served in Vietnam and presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, which may have caused diabetes.

"He was the person responsible for certifying that these were authentic documents. So, he would certify the documents, then pass them on to the federal V.A., which would approve them based on Mr. Clark's certifications," Rosenstein said.
read more here