Current

• Former Director of Phoenix VA Hospital Pleads Guilty
  VA Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigations assist the Department of Justice in attaining a guilty plea and holding the former VAMC Phoenix Director accountable.
• OIG To Begin Release of Administrative Summaries of Wait Time Investigations
• Former VA Nurse Pleads Guilty To Stealing Controlled Substance From Hospital Syringes
  Nurse pleads guilty to stealing controlled substance from veterans in hospice care to feed personal addiction.
• Former Goodwill Employee Charged in Scheme to Steal VA Grant Money
  Two individuals face conspiracy charges in connection with grants fraud.
• Veterans Affairs Official Sentenced for Accepting Gifts in Relation to His Job Duties
  Contracting Officer sentenced in connection with accepting prepaid vacation packages while in a position to exert influence.
• Shasta County Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the VA by Falsely Claiming He Was a Decorated Veteran
  Stolen Valor— Shasta County Man pleads guilty to 23 misdemeanor counts in scheme to illegally obtain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Blythewood Man Convicted of Massive Government Fraud
  South Carolina man could face up to 20 years of imprisonment, fines up to $500,000 and forfeiture of more than $1.5 million dollars in connection with a fraudulent disability claim.
• Federal Jury Convicts North Carolina Couple Of Fraud
  Husband and wife conspired to defraud federal contract programs for disadvantaged and disabled veteran-owned small businesses
• A Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Convicted of Falsifying Medical Records and Computer Fraud
  Former Nurse at Miami VA Medical Center Pled Guilty To Altering Records of Deceased Patient Who Received Poor Care
• California Medical Device Maker Settles Allegations it Improperly Compensated VA Podiatrists
  OIG Investigations Into Sunnyvale, CA, Manufacturer’s Influence in Procurement Process Leads to $3M Payment To VA
• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Collects Over $ 255 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2015
  US Attorney for Northern District of Georgia Cites Recovery from Joint Veterans Affairs OIG/Social Security Administration OIG Case as One of Largest FY 2015 Criminal Collections
• Warner Chilcott Agrees to Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme and Pay $125 Million
  Joint VA OIG, HHS OIG, DODIG, OPM OIG, FBI, and FDA Investigation of Illegal Promotion of Osteoporosis Drugs Leads to $125M Settlement from Pharmaceutical Company, Settlement of Healthcare Fraud Scheme Will Return Funds to VA for Continued Care of Veteran
• Former Federal Employee Labor Union President Indicted In White Plains Federal Court For Stealing Union Funds
  US Attorney for Southern District of New York Recognizes Joint OIG - Department of Labor Investigation in Indictment of Former VA Union President Who Allegedly Misused $120,000 in Union Funds
• Missouri Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
  20-Month Prison Sentence, $30K Judgment for Blue Springs, MO, Woman Whose Family Business Fraudulently Obtained $6.7M in Set-Aside Contracts Intended for Veteran Entrepreneurs
• Millennium Laboratories to Pay $256 Million to Resolve False Billing and Kickback Claims
  $256M Settlements Result from Joint Investigation of San Diego Laboratory for Medically Unnecessary Drug and Genetic Testing
• East Greenbush Nurse Indicted, Accused Of Obtaining Controlled Substance From Hospital Syringes
  Albany, NY, VA Medical Center LPN Faces Prison Time, Fine If Convicted for Tampering with Oxycodone Hydrochloride Syringes
• A Statement from the Deputy Inspector General - VA OIG Review of Anonymous Complaint Finds That Two VBA Senior Executives Inappropriately Used Their Positions for Personal and Financial Benefit, and That VBA Misused VA’s Relocation Program
  Washington, DC – The Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs requested the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigate allegations concerning financial benefits and preference given at VA. An anonymous complainant alleged that Ms. Diana Rubens, Philadelphia VA Regional Office (VARO) Director, improperly received $288,206.77 in relocation expenses for transferring from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Headquarters to her current position at the VARO and retained her high-level Senior Executive Service (SES) salary, despite the position being two levels lower on VA’s SES pay scale. We were also asked to conduct a broader review of VA’s Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Relocation program. Our investigation substantiated the allegations. The OIG issued its report http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-15-02997-526.pdf on September 28, 2015.
• Essex County, New Jersey, Man Admits Defrauding Veterans Affair
  New Jersey Man Who Submitted False Information on Military Service Pleads Guilty To Receiving Over $150K in VA Disability Benefits
• A Statement from the Deputy Inspector General - VA OIG Substantiates Whistleblower’s Claims of Extensive, Persistent Problems in Veterans Health Care Enrollment Records
• A Statement from the VA Deputy Inspector General - VA Deputy Inspector General Announces Selections for Chief of Staff for Healthcare Oversight Integration and Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations
• Former Executive Convicted of Bribing Former Director of Cleveland VA Medical Center
  OIG, FBI Investigation Results in Conviction of Design Contractor Who Received Inside Information from Former VA Executive
• A Statement from the Deputy Inspector General - OIG Conducts Surprise Inspections of VBA Regional Offices After Identifying Inappropriate Shredding Practices at the Los Angeles Regional Office
  Washington, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous allegation that staff at the Los Angeles VA Regional Office (VARO) were inappropriately shredding documents related to veterans’ disability compensation claims. The complainant also alleged that supervisors were instructing staff to shred these documents. The OIG immediately deployed a team of inspectors to determine the merits of these allegations.
• Hull Resident Arrested and Charged with Theft of Government Funds
  Massachusetts Man Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison if Found Guilty in Theft of $40,000 in VA Benefits
• VA Employee Charged With Falsifying Medical Records Of Numerous Veterans
  Grand Jury Returns 50-Count Indictment Against VA Supervisor Who Falsified Consults at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA. Indictment Based on Investigation by OIG Special Agents, Assisted by OIG Healthcare Inspections Clinical Staff.
• Mercer County, New Jersey, Woman Sentenced To 37 Months In Prison For Paying $671,000 In Bribes To Fraudulently Obtain Government Construction Contracts
  New Jersey US Attorney’s Office Credits VA OIG, FBI and IRS-Criminal for Investigation Leading to Sentencing in Bribery Case
• Founders of Film School for Wounded Veterans Found Guilty of Conspiracy, Fraud,
  Jury Convicts San Diego Filmmakers Who Used Wounded Marines Foundation Funds for Vacations and Personal Expenses Following Investigation by OIG and IRS-Criminal
• Former Warner Chilcott Sales Manager Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud
  New Jersey Drug Company District Manager Faces Prison, Fine for Scheme To Deceive Govt To Pay for Osteoporosis Drug
• Veterans’ Cemetery Worker to Plead Guilty to Stealing Gravestones
  Rhode Island Man Who Stole 150 Grave Markers Agrees to Guilty Plea Following VA OIG & State Police Investigation
• Former Department Of Veterans Affairs Official Sentenced To 46 Months In Prison For Taking $1.2 Million In Kickbacks
  New Jersey US Attorney Credits VA OIG, FBI, & IRS CID for Investigation Leading to 46-Month Prison Sentence for Former VA East Orange, NJ Engineer
• Tax Fraudster Receives 27-Year Prison Sentence
  Tampa Man Who Used Names Stolen from VA To File $3M in False Tax Returns Gets 27 Yrs in Prison, Ordered To Pay Restitution
• Three People Arrested in Puerto Rico in a Contractor Major Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs
  “Rent-a-Vet” Scheme To Obtain Multi-Million Contracts Set Aside for Disabled Veterans Results in 5-Count Indictment Against Trio in Puerto Rico
• Former VA Contractor Sentenced To Prison In Connection With Stolen Identity Refund Fraud
  Judge Hands Down 6 Yrs+ Sentence for Tampa Man Who Stole Documents from James A. Haley VA Hospital
• Six Individuals Sentenced For Fraudlent Schemes Against The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  Tennessee Residents Who Falsified 464 VA Travel Claims Get 26 Months in Prison, 4 Years’ Probation, 15 years of Supervised Release, 300 Hours of Community Service, and Ordered To Pay Restitution
• Central Coast Company Pays $1 Million To Resolve Allegations Of Lying To Obtain Service-Disabled Veteran Contracts
  Settlement Demonstrates OIG’s Continued Commitment To Aggressively Pursue Individuals and Companies that Misrepresent Themselves as Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Deny Legitimate Disabled Veterans Opportunity To Compete for VA Contrac
• Veteran Sentenced for Wrongful Receipt of Benefits Based on Falsified Military Records
  6 Months in Prison for Wakefield, MA, Man Who Falsified VA Claim, Judge Orders $174K in Restitution
• Release of Administrative Closures
  As a result of a review of Office of Inspector General decision-making practices on closing reviews administratively, the Deputy Inspector General instituted a new policy requiring coordination of administrative closures within the Immediate Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Counselor to the Inspector General, and the Release of Information Office.
• Holland Couple Indicted In Connection With Fraudulent Receipt Of Veterans’ Benefits And Workers Compensation
  NY Couple Face 20 Years in Prison, $250K Fine if Convicted for $1M Fraud Involving VA and Workers Comp Benefits
• VA Hospital Union Official Arrested for Stealing from Union
  Former Birmingham VAMC Union President Arrested Following 19-Charge Indictment Related To Stealing $132K from Local Chapter
• San Antonio Businessman Sentenced For V.A. Fraud Scheme
  Texas Man Gets 1 Yr, 1 Day in Prison, Ordered to Pay $1.4M in Restitution for Defrauding VA in Contracts Meant for Veterans
• Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Probation for Stealing from Department of Veterans Affairs
  $179K in Restitution, 2 Years’ Probation for New Mexico Man Who Stole VA Deposits from Bank Account
• Civil Settlement Reached With Construction Company Falsely Claiming To Be Owned By A Service Disabled Veteran
  US Attorney for New Jersey Credits VA OIG, SBA OIG Investigation for Leading to $1.3M Settlement with New Jersey Construction Company

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Special Releases

• Three VA Office of Inspector General Projects Receive CIGIE Awards for Excellence
• Deputy Inspector General Announces Steps To Strengthen OIG Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman Program
  Deputy Inspector General Linda Halliday announced that the VA OIG is improving its Hotline submission process, reinvigorating the OIG Rewards Program, and enhancing crime awareness education briefings at VA facilities.
• Deputy Inspector General Announces Steps To Strengthen OIG Whistleblower Protection Training
  One of my first acts as VA Deputy Inspector General is to take steps to ensure that all VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) employees are fully trained on protections and remedies guaranteed to Federal employees by the Whistleblower Protection Act...
• Brookings Names VA OIG as Second Most Productive OIG in Government Based on Last 5 Years’ Return on Investment
  In a paper issued April 30, 2015, the Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings issued a paper assessing the benefits Office of Inspector General bring to government. The paper focuses on Return on Investment (ROI)—the most quantifiable metric of agency performance. The Social Security OIG was first with an ROI of $43.60 to $1, the VA OIG was second with $38 to $1, and HUD OIG was third with $29.59 to $1. http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2015/04/30-inspectors-general-roi-hudak-wallack.

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Archive of Press Releases by Offense

Homicide/Assault/Threats

• Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on a Federal Officer in VA Hospital Shooting Incident
  Penn. Man Faces Up to 1 Year in Prison for Assault Involving BB Gun at Wilmington, DE, VA Medical Center
• East Tennessee Woman Indicted in TBI Case Surrounding Husband’s 2006 Murder
  Joint Investigation with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and SSA OIG Results in Grand Jury Indictment of Woman for Plotting and Killing Husband by Prescription Drug Overdose

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Stolen Valor

• Brandon Man Sentenced To More Than 7 Years For Stolen Identity Refund Fraud
  Aggressive Pursuit of Identity Fraud Investigation with IRS and Florida Highway Patrol Results in Over 7 Yrs in Prison, $69K Fine

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Drug Diversion/Distribution

• Two Employees Of Veterans Affairs Hospital, Including Logistics Warehouse And Mail Center Supervisor, Charged With Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine
  VA OIG, US Postal Inspections Arrest Two Bronx VA Workers for Allegedly Distributing 5 Kilograms of Cocaine
• Jamestown Nurse Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Oxycodone
  Former Nurse at VA Clinic in New York Faces Prison, Fines for Forging Prescriptions and Distributing Narcotics
• Seven Arrested, Charged with Selling Illegal Drugs to Veterans Treated at VA Medical Centers in New Jersey
  OIG, FBI Operation to Combat Sale of Heroin and Crack Cocaine at VA's Lyons and Orange, NJ, Medical Centers Results in Arrests

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Beneficiary Fraud

• Former Maryland Veterans Affairs Official Sentenced To Prison For Fraudulently Obtaining Over $1.4 Million In Benefits
  Maryland Man Who Helped 17 People Submit False VA Claims Gets 1 Year+1 Day in Prison, Ordered to Pay Government Over $2.6 M
• Wentzville Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds
  Missouri Woman Admits To Stealing $138K in Veterans’ Benefits in the Name of Her Deceased Mother, Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison and $250K Fine
• Nine Individuals Charged With Stealing Approximately $1.4 Million As A Result Of Operation Tombstone
  Joint Investigation Results in Indictments for Florida Residents Who Stole SSA and Veterans Benefits
• Holland Man Charged in Connection with Fraudulent Receipt of Veterans' Benefits and Workers Compensation
  NY Man Who Falsely Claimed To Be Confined to Wheelchair Indicted Along with Wife for $1M in False VA and Workers’ Compensation Claims
• South China Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing Veteran Death Benefits
  Maine Man Faces Up to 10 Years for Stealing Over $53K in Death and Indemnity Benefits from VA
• Veteran Sentenced to Two Years in Prison For Lying to Obtain Disability Benefits
  North Carolina Man Admits To Lying About Physical Condition to VA, Judge Orders $519K in Restitution and 2 Years in Prison
• Scandia man indicted for stealing survivor benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  Minnesota Man Who Cashed Deceased Mother's VA Checks Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison If Convicted

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Identity Theft

• Tampa Man Pleads Guilty During Jury Selection In Stolen Identity Refund Case
  Significant Prison Time Faces Florida Man Who Admits To Stealing Veterans’ Identities from James Haley VA Hospital
• Tampa Man Sentenced To More Than Ten Years For Tax Fraud Scheme
  Identity Thief Who Used Stolen Veterans’ Personally Identifiable Information for Tax Fraud Gets 10 Years, $300K Judgment
• Former VA Contractor Arrested In Connection With Stolen Identity Refund Fraud
  Tampa Man Arrested for Stealing Veterans’ Information from James Haley VAMC Then Selling It for Use in Filing Fraudulent Tax Refunds
• Tampa Man Sentenced To More Than Seven Years For Stolen Identity Refund Fraud
  Federal Judge Gives 7.5 Year Sentence to Florida Man for Identity Theft that Victimized Veterans at Haley VAMC
• Former VA Employee Sentenced To Prison For Theft Of Veterans’ Personal Information
  6 Years in Prison, $105K Judgment for Former Tampa VAMC Employee Who Stole Identities of Over 100 In-Patients
• Veterans Support Group Director Gets 30 Months For Stealing Veteran's Identity
  30-Month Sentence for Philadelphia Man Who Defrauded VA of $178K in Health Care and Compensation Benefits
• Man Arrested For Defrauding The United States Army Reserve
  Federal Grand Jury in Puerto Rico Returns 7-Count Indictment Against Man Who Received Veterans Benefits Using Assumed Identity
• Trio Pleads Guilty to Filing Fraudulent Claims for Federal Income Tax Refunds
  Dayton, OH, VAMC Employee Used Government-Owned Computer in ConspiracyTo File Fraudulent Tax Returns
• Man Indicted for Embezzling from VA Program and Identity Theft
  Mass. Man Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison If Convicted for Embezzling $68K from Boston Veterans Affairs Research Institute
• Veteran Affairs Employee Indicted For Sale Of Veterans' Identity Information
  Former Tampa VA Employee Faces Prison, Fines If Convicted of Misusing Patient Information for Personal and Financial Gain

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Contractor Fraud

• Iron Mountain Companies Agree to Pay $44.5 Million to Settle Alleged False Billing for Storing Government Documents and Data
  $44.5 M Settlement Results from Joint Investigation by OIGs and Other Law Enforcement Agencies, VA Among Agencies That Contracted for Record Storage with Iron Mountain
• Virginia Executive Indicted For Fraudulently Receiving Confidential Information About VA Construction Projects
  OIG, FBI Investigation Leads to 23-Count Indictment for Construction Contractor Who Conspired To Defraud VA
• Owner of Union County Home Health Aide Agency Charged With Billing Medicaid & Veterans Affairs More Than $100,000 for Services That Were Not Provided
  30-Count Indictment for New Jersey Woman Who Submitted Hundreds of Fraudulent Claims to VA and Medicaid for In-Home Care
• Coweta County Man Sentenced for Illegally Obtaining Federal Contracts Reserved for Military Veterans
  2-Year Sentence for Georgia Man Convicted in “Rent-a-Vet” Contracting Fraud Scheme

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Fiduciary Fraud

• Harrisburg Woman Indicted in Mail Fraud Scheme
  Illinois Fiduciary Who Used Veterans and Social Security Recipients’ Funds To Pay Her Own Bills Faces Up To 20 Years in Prison

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SDVOSB

• Four Indicted For Fraud Against Government Contracting Programs
  Federal Grand Jury in Tennessee Returns Fraud Indictment in Scheme to Get Set-Aside Contracts Intended for Small Businesses and Veterans
• Pennsylvania Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Make False Statements and Defraud the Government
  Penn. Contractor Admits Hiring Veteran as “Straw” Partner To Obtain $8.7 M in Government Contracts Meant for Disabled Veterans
• Co-owner of Defunct Company Admits Defrauding Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
  Missouri Man Pleads Guilty To Fraud, Made False Claims Enabling Company To Win $6.7M in Set-Aside Contracts Intended for Veterans
• Omaha Contractor and Companies Plead Guilty to Fraud Scheme
  Omaha Contractor Faces 24 Month in Prison for “Pass Through” Scheme That Took 45 Contracts Away From Legitimate Veteran-Owned Businesses
• New Jersey Business Owner Admits Fraudulent Claims Of Service-Disabled Veteran Ownership
  Office Design Owner Faces 5 Years in Prison for Falsely Claiming SDVOSB Status, Recieved $1.2M in Contracts Meant for Veterans
• Albuquerque Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Federal Program for Service-Disabled Veterans
  Albuquerque Duo Plead Guilty in Scheme Where Nearly $11M in VA Construction Contracts Went to Them Instead of Disabled Veteran Business Owners
• Connecticut Man Sentenced for Claiming To Operate Minority, Service-Disabled Veteran Business
  2-Years’ Probation, $38K Forfeiture For Connecticut Man Who Falsely Claimed Disabled Veteran Status to Obtain Set-Aside Contracts
• Sterling Business Owner Sentenced for Claiming to be Minority, Service-Disabled Veteran Operated Business
  Federal Judge Sentences Massachusetts Contractor to 1 Year in Prison, $399K Forfeiture for Falsely Claiming to Be Disabled Veteran

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VA Employee Corruption

• Former Federal Employee who Stole Government Property for Home Improvement Project
  Supervisor at West Haven, CT, VAMC Who Had Employees Repair and VA Pay for Improvements to Her Residence Gets 6 Months Home Confinement, Community Service, and $15K Fine
• Former Director of VA Medical Center Pleaded Guilty To Taking Money From Firm Bidding On Jobs
  OIG, FBI Investigation Results in Guilty Plea from Former VA Official Who Enriched Himself at Expense of Veterans
• Former Veterans Affairs Psychiatrist Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud
  Brooklyn VA Psychiatrist Admits To Falsely Billing Medicare, Agrees To Forfeit $1.2M in Illegal Payments
• Former Department of Veterans Affairs Official Admits Fraud Taking $1.2 Million in Kickbacks
  Former VA East Orange Engineer Violated Public Trust By Directing Construction Contracts to Companies In Return for $1.2M
• Jersey City Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bribing a VA Official
  New Jersey Construction Contractor Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison, $250K in Fine for $5,000 Bribe to VA Official
• Former Director of Cleveland VA Medical Center Indicted for Conspiracy, Fraud, Money Laundering and Other Charges
  OIG, FBI Public Corruption Probe Leads to 36-Count Indictment Against Former VA Cleveland Medical Center Director

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Procurement Fraud

• A Department Of Veterans Affairs Official And Durable Medical Equipment Vendor Charged With Health Care Fraud
  Former Prosthetics Chief at W. Palm Beach, FL, VA Medical Center Accused of Conspiring With Vendor To Fraudulently Bill VA for Equipment Never Provided to Veterans.
• Leesburg Man Sentenced for Role in Procurement Fraud Scheme Affecting over $33 Million in Federal Contracts
  16 Months Prison Time, $1M Forfeiture for Leesburg, VA, Man for Fraud Involving Government Contracts Meant for Disabled Veterans
• Business Owner Charged in $1.2 Million Procurement Fraud
  New Jersey Woman Arrested for Falsely Claiming Service-Disabled Business Status, Received $1.2M in Contracts from VA

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Additional Investigations

• Former Defense Department Employee Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for $2.5 Million Health Care Fraud -Veteran Admits Submitting Fraudulent Claims for Medical Expenses-
  Subject Made Fraudulent Claims Against VA Foreign Medical Program, Sentencing Affirms OIG’s Commitment To Bring to Justice Those Who Steal From Programs for Nation’s Deserving Veterans
• Nashville Woman Sentenced To Prison For Stealing VA Funds Intended for Needy Veterans
  OIG Investigation Results in 2 Years in Prison for Nashville Woman Who Squandered $364K in Grants Meant for Homeless Veterans
• Former Employee Of Exeter Hospital Pleads Guilty To Charges Related To Multi-State Hepatitis C Outbreak
  Traveling Healthcare Technician Pleads Guilty To Stealing Fentanyl and Knowingly Exposing Patients to Hepatitis C
• Ten-Year Sentence for Dayton Man Who Viewed Child Pornography While a Patient at VA Medical Center
  OIG Investigation Results in 10-Year Sentence, Lifetime Supervision for Dayton Man Involved in Online Exploitation of Children

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