Current

• Kansas Man Sentenced For Pretending to be Blind To Qualify for Federal Benefits
• Justice Department Announces Closing of Ayudando Guardians Office
• Broken Arrow Man Pleads Guilty To Witness Tampering
  VA psychiatrist pleads guilty to witness tampering.
• Geneseo Man Pleads Guilty to Stolen Valor Offenses
  Veteran pleads guilty to theft of government funds and related Stolen Valor offenses.
• Cardiologist Admits Billing Veterans Affairs For Hundreds Of Bogus Medical Procedures
  A doctor pleads guilty to defrauding the VA by billing for over 350 procedures he did not perform.
• Academy Medical, LLC and its Owners to Pay $335,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Liability
  Academy Medical LLC agrees to pay $335,000 to resolve False Claims Act liability allegations that they exploited service-disabled veteran-owned small business VA contracts that they would not have otherwise qualified for on their own.
• PHH Agrees To Pay Over $74 Million To Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Liability Arising From Mortgage Lending
  PHH Corp. agrees to pay $74 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations regarding originating and underwriting mortgage loans insured by the VA.
• Canandaigua Man Sentenced for Threatening Shooting at Albany VA Medical Center
  Man sentenced for threatening to commit a mass shooting at the Stratton VA Medical Center.
• VA Office of Inspector General Releases Inspection Report on Opioid Prescribing
  OIG’s inspection, Opioid Prescribing to High-Risk Veterans Receiving VA Purchased Care, identifies the need for improved care coordination between VA and non-VA healthcare providers prescribing opioids to veterans.
• South Florida Man Charged With Credit Card Fraud And Identity Theft Involving Personal Information From Veterans
  Man indicted on charges of credit card fraud and identity theft of veterans receiving VA health care benefits.
• Guardianship Firm and its Principals Charged with Federal Conspiracy, Fraud, Theft and Money Laundering Offenses
  Two women charged in decade-long scheme to embezzle funds from client trust accounts who received VA and SSA benefit payments.
• Owner Of Commercial Supply Companies Gets 60 Months In Prison For Conspiring To Defraud Approximately 40 Companies Of More Than $1 Million
  Philadelphia man sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiring to defraud approximately 40 businesses out of more than $1 million.
• Jacksonville Veteran Indicted On Charges Of Stealing $538,000 In Fraudulent Disability Benefits
  Veteran indicted on charges for fraudulently stealing $538,000 in VA disability benefits.
• Madison Man Sentenced to 16 Months for Conspiring to Defraud the VA
  Man sentenced to 16 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the VA of compensation benefits.
• Chelsea Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of VA Benefits
  Veteran pleads guilty to theft of VA travel reimbursement benefits.
• Former VA Nurse Re-Sentenced for Stealing and Tampering with Patient Medications
  Former VA nurse sentenced to 38 months in prison for tampering with a consumer product and obtaining controlled substances by deception.
• St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement of Money from a Disabled Veteran
  Fiduciary pleads guilty to embezzling more than $30,000 from a disabled veteran.
• Owner Of Computer School Admits $2.8 Million Veterans’ Retraining Assistance Program Education Fraud
  The owner of a computer training company pleads guilty to defrauding the VA of over $2.8 million in education benefits.
• Physician at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Martinsburg Indicted on Drug Charges
  Former VA employee indicted on 15 counts of drug diversion charges.
• Snoqualmie Washington Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Defrauding Government Programs of More than $646,000
  Veteran sentenced to prison for lying about injuries received during military service to defraud the VA and other agencies of benefits.
• Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Relating to a Kickback Scheme at the John Cochran VA Center
  Former VA supervisor pleads guilty to charges in a $270,000 kickback scheme involving medical center HVAC contracts from 2012 to 2015.
• Wisconsin man sentenced to more than four years in prison for falsely claiming he was a Navy SEAL wounded in Vietnam to get benefits
  Wisconsin man sentenced to prison for posing as a Vietnam-era Navy SEAL to defraud the VA of benefits.
• Cleveland Heights Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, Son to Seven Years for $8 Million Home Healthcare Fraud
  Four people sentenced in $8 million healthcare fraud scheme that targeted Medicaid, Medicare and the VA.
• Former Massachusetts Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Funds From Disabled Veterans and Running Fraudulent Tax Preparation Business
  Former police sergeant pleads guilty to fiduciary fraud misappropriating funds from the accounts of disabled veterans and other offenses.
• Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Veterans Disability Benefits
  Woman sentenced to prison for stealing nearly $400,000 in VA disability benefits.
• Man Who Falsely Claimed to Receive the Purple Heart Award to Receive Financial Benefits is Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison
  Veteran sentenced to Federal prison for fraudulently representing military decorations for VA compensation and pension benefits.
• Owner of Independence Clinic Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme
  Owner of a medical clinic pleads guilty to defrauding the VA through a health care disability examination scheme.
• SCM True Air Technologies, Of Ohio And Kentucky, And Its Former Company President - Guilty Of Delivering Misbranded Medical Devices From Unregistered Facilities To A Georgia V.A. Medical Center And Obstructing An FDA Investigation Into Their Conduct
  Two men plead guilty to selling unregistered, misbranded, and defective bariatric beds to VA.
• Operators of Trucking School Charged with Defrauding VA by Collecting Tuition for Veterans who Never Attended Classes
  Two men arrested and indicted on federal charges that they defrauded the VA of over $4 million in tuition and other payments. The men are accused of falsely certifying that veterans attended classes at a trucking school.
• Inventory Management and Staffing Deficiencies at the Washington, DC, VA Medical Center That Are Placing Patients at Unnecessary Risk
  The VA Office of Inspector General issued an Interim Summary Report about inventory management practices and staffing deficiencies that place patients at unnecessary risk at the Washington, DC, VA Medical Center.
• VA Office of Inspector General Enhances Healthcare Inspection Program
  OIG’s new Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) reviews of Veterans Health Administration facilities starts in April 2017.
• Canandaigua Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Mass Shooting at Albany VA
  Man pleads guilty to threatening to commit a mass shooting at the Stratton VA Medical Center.
• Owner of New England Compounding Center Convicted of Racketeering Leading to Nationwide Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
  Pharmacist convicted of racketeering and mail fraud that contributed to a nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak.
• VA Office of Inspector General Releases Evaluation of the Veterans Crisis Line
  The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued its health care inspection, Evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Crisis Line, reporting deficiencies in multiple areas of VA’s administration of its Veterans Crisis Line (VCL).
• Ball Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Stealing More than $100,000 in Veterans Affairs Benefits
  Man sentenced to 21 months in prison for defrauding the VA of more than $100,000 in benefits.
• Owner of Commercial Supply Companies Admits Conspiring to Defraud Approximately 40 Companies of More Than $1 Million
  Business owner in New Jersey admits to conspiracy to defraud the VA and other Federal government agencies by subcontracting third-party vendors to provide services on credit and falsely promising to pay the vendors.
• VA Office of Inspector General Releases VISN 6 Access to Care Audit
  OIG audit finds new patients experience significant delays to access to VA health care.
• Indictment: Claiming to be Blind, Defendant Drove to Appointments
  Army veteran indicted on federal fraud charges for pretending to be blind to receive VA benefits.
• Las Cruces Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing from and Defrauding Department of Veterans Affairs
  New Mexico woman pleads guilty to defrauding the VA by embezzling “surviving-spouse” benefits checks.
• Veterans Affairs Employees Charged with Stealing and Selling Prescription Drugs
  Three U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employees charged with conspiring to steal prescription medications, including opioids, from the VA John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital.
• Former Goodwill Employee and Another Man Sentenced for Stealing Grant Money Destined for Homeless Veterans
  Two men convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud were ordered to prison for their role in fraudulently cashing VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant checks that were intended to provide emergency housing assistance to vetera
• Holmes County Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Receiving Veterans Disability Benefits
  Florida woman pleads guilty to theft of government funds for fraudulently receiving $394,800 in VA disability benefits.
• Former Physician Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme
  Former doctor who performed unauthorized health care examinations for a VA contractor pleads guilty to health care fraud.
• Construction Company Owner, KC Veteran Indicted in $13.8 Million 'Rent-A-Vet' Scheme
  Two men indicted in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business construction contracts.
• Jury Finds Army Veteran Guilty Of Theft Of Nearly $300,000 And Making A False Statement
  Veteran found guilty of theft of government property and making a false statement to receive disability benefits.
• Athens Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the VA
  Veteran pleads guilty to benefit compensation fraud.
• New England Compounding Center’s National Sales Director Pleads Guilty
  Rhode Island man pleads guilty to conspiring to defraud the FDA
• Owner of Chesapeake Barber College Pleads Guilty to $4.5 Million GI Bill Fraud
  Virginia woman pleads guilty to $4.5 million GI Bill Fraud scheme.
• Pharmaceutical Executives Charged in Racketeering Scheme
  Seven people arrested in conspiracy scheme to bribe doctors using kickbacks to inflate drug sales.
• Iowa Woman Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud
  Iowa woman sentenced to 18 months in prison for falsifying mortgage loan paperwork to receive a VA home loan.
• Palm Beach County Man Sentenced to 150 Months’ Imprisonment for Role in Bonding Fraud Scheme
  Florida man sentenced to twelve-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding federal agencies by issuing worthless bonds to insure construction contracts.
• Owner of Chesapeake Barber College Pleads Guilty to $4.5 Million GI Bill Fraud
  Virginia man pleads guilty to $4.5 million GI Bill Fraud Scheme.
• Owner of Sham ‘Veteran-Owned’ Company Ordered to Forfeit $6.7 Million
  Massachusetts man convicted of defrauding the Federal government is ordered to forfeit $6.7 million.
• Bossier City Woman Sentenced to 12 months in Prison for Stealing More than $90,000 in VA Benefits
  Louisiana woman sentenced to 12 months in prison for fraudulently taking $90,000 in VA benefits that payable to her deceased mother.
• Madison Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud the VA
  Father-in-law assists veterans in filing fraudulent compensation benefit claim
• VA Office of Inspector General Releases Administrative Investigation Report Concerning John Thomas Burch, Jr.
  VA employee used position for private gain and misused government resources connected to outside employment with veterans’ charity.
• Nine South Florida Residents Charged with Stealing Over $800,000 from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  Six people charged with veterans federal death benefits fraud.
• Former Veterans Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Medication
  Former VA nurse pleads guilty to stealing oxycodone and other medications from VA medical center.
• Two Individuals Ordered to Pay Over $4 Million in Restitution For Their Participation in a Conspiracy to Defraud Federal Agencies and Federal Contractors
  Two individuals ordered to pay $4 million in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government.
• St. Louis Area Woman Indicted on Charges of Theft by a Veteran's Affairs Fiduciary
  Woman charged with theft government funds and misappropriation related to her role as the fiduciary representative for a disabled veteran.
• VA Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Falsifying the Medical Records of Hundreds of Veterans
  Former VA employee sentenced to prison for falsifying medical records of veterans that delayed vital health care.
• VA Office of Inspector General Receives Project Excellence Awards
• CEO, CFO and VP Convicted in Nationwide Worker's Compensation Fraud Scheme
  Company CEO, CFO, and VP convicted of conspiracy and health care fraud.
• Navy Veteran Convicted of Making False Statement to Receive Disability Benefit Payments
  Navy veteran pleads guilty to making false statements to a VA OIG special agent in an effort to continue receiving disability benefits.
• Kentucky Veteran Sentenced to Two Years in Prison after Federal Jury Found Him Guilty of Defrauding the Veterans Health Administration
  Veteran sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding VA of nearly $700,000 in disability compensation.
• VA Office of Inspector General Releases Phoenix Consult Mismanagement Report
  OIG review finds that the Phoenix VA Health Care System inappropriately discontinued consults for some patients in 2015.
• Stafford Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding U.S. Veterans
  Connecticut man pleads guilty to defrauding veterans by representing that in exchange for money he would help them obtain increased benefits from the VA.
• North Carolina Couple Sentenced For Government Contract Fraud
  SDVOSB fraud results in federal prison term for a North Carolina couple.
• Owner of Sham ‘Veteran-Owned’ Company Sentenced for $100 Million Fraud
  Massachusetts man receives a sentence of 30 months in prison and a fine of $1 million for a $100 million Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside contracting fraud scheme.
• VA Office of Inspector General Releases Denver Construction Report
  OIG review identifies factors that increased the cost and delayed construction of the Denver replacement medical center in Aurora, Colorado.
• Milan Man Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Theft of Veterans Benefits
  Illinois man sentenced to one year in federal prison for benefits fraud totaling $178,789.
• Independence Man Sentenced for Receiving Undeserved Veterans Benefits
  Missouri man sentenced to over four years in federal prison for benefits fraud and other offenses.
• Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Veterans Benefits
  Massachusetts man pleads guilty to theft of nearly $80,000 in veterans benefits.
• Cannon Design to Pay $12 Million as Part of Criminal Enforcement Agreement
  Joint OIG and FBI investigation results in Cannon Design signing a Criminal Enforcement Agreement that includes a $12 million penalty.
• Mortgage Company President Charged with Defrauding Ginnie Mae
  Joint investigation results in conspiracy and wire fraud charges in Ginnie Mae case.
• Collin County Man Sentenced for Disabled Vet Related Fraud
  Texas man sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business set-aside contracts.
• Manchester Resident Pleads Guilty To Selling Stolen Government Property
  OIG and VA Police investigation results in guilty plea to fifteen counts of unlawfully converting government property.
• Former Whitman Police Sergeant Charged with Embezzling Funds from Disabled Veterans
  Joint investigation results in an arrest and charges against a former police sergeant in connection with misappropriating funds from the accounts of disabled veterans while he was a VA appointed fiduciary.
• Statement from VA Inspector General on National Whistleblower Appreciation Day
  National Whistleblower Appreciation Day statement from VA Inspector General Michael Missal.
• Canandaigua Man Indicted for Threatening to Kill VA Employees in Albany
  OIG investigation results in the indictment of a Canandaigua, New York, man for threatening to kill a VA police officer.
• Medical Device Manufacturer Acclarent Inc. to Pay $18 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
  Acclarent Inc., agrees to pay $18 million to settle false claims act allegations.
• Former Acclarent, Inc. Executives Convicted of Crimes Related to the Sale of Medical Devices
  Joint investigation results in convictions on 10 counts of introducing adulterated and misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce.
• Former Federal Employee Labor Union President Sentenced In White Plains Federal Court For Stealing Union Funds
  OIG and DOL investigation results in guilty plea and 15 month sentence for former Federation of Government Employees local president.
• Nevada Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Perpetrating a Nationwide Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme
  Las Vegas man receives 25 year sentence for multimillion dollar scheme to defraud the government.
• Palm Beach County Resident Found Guilty of Defrauding Federal Agencies
  Joint investigative effort from VA OIG and multiple other OIGs results in fraud conviction.
• Investigation Leads to 50-Year Sentence - Veteran Murdered by Wife for Monetary Benefits
  Veteran Murdered by Wife for Monetary Benefits receives 50-year sentence
• Redmond Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Federal Benefits
  Veteran pleads guilty and accepts plea agreement for stealing VA and other federal government benefits.
• U.S. Attorney's Office Files Federal Charges Against 16 Individuals for Fraudulent Receipt of Travel Reimbursement Benefits from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  OIG and VA Police investigation results in charges against 16 individuals for fraudulent travel vouchers.
• Former Nurse Sentenced to 82 Months for Stealing and Tampering with Patient Medications
  Former VA nurse sentenced to 82 months for stealing and tampering with medications.
• Chelmsford Man Convicted of Defrauding Disabled Veterans Program of More Than $100 Million
  Chelmsford, Mass., man found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States in the implementation and administration of the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Program.
• Auburn Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft from Interstate Shipments
  Auburn, Maine, woman pleads guilty to stealing prescription narcotic medications from VA medical center.
• Federal Investigation Yields Multiple Convictions In Connection With Bribery Of Veterans Affairs Contracting Officer
  OIG & FBI joint investigation results in conviction of seventh defendant in contracting bribery scandal.
• Oregon DOJ’s Medicaid Fraud Unit Prosecutes Fiduciary who Targeted Veterans
  Joint investigation results in conviction of fiduciary who stole from veterans she was appointed to help.
• Pennsylvania Man Charged In Alleged $35 Million Fraud Against Veterans’ Education GI Bill
  Pennsylvania man orchestrated a scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans by charging ten to thirty times the actual cost of online correspondence courses through a subcontractor.
• Two Individuals Plead Guilty in Conspiracy to Defraud Over Ten Federal Agencies
  These two individuals defrauded over 100 contractors and various government agencies in an elaborate surety bond scheme.
• Warner Chilcott Sentenced to Pay $125 Million for Health Care Fraud Scheme
  Warner Chilcott to pay $125 million for illegally marketing pharmaceuticals and providing kickbacks to physicians from 2009 through 2013.
• Retired Funeral Director Pleads Guilty To Submitting Fraudulent Claims To The Veterans Administration
• Federal Workers Compensation Kickback Conspirators Plead Guilty
  Two conspirators face up to five years in prison related to a kickback scheme netting over $1 million.
• The Hayner Hoyt Corporation To Pay $5 Million To Resolve False Claims Act Liability
  Coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, VA-OIG, SBA-OIG, and DCIS results in $5 million penalty for exploiting a contracting program designed to assist service-disabled veterans.
• Former Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Sentenced to 60 months in prison for Altering and Falsifying VA Computer Records
  Alteration of medical records by former nurse results in appropriate medical treatment being withheld from veteran, who subsequently passed away.
• Founders of Film School for Wounded Veterans Sentenced to Prison
  Husband and wife capitalized on the misfortune of wounded marines now face prison time and fines.
• 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.
• 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.

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Special Releases

• The Honorable Michael Missal assumes leadership role at VA OIG
  The VA Office of Inspector General welcomed Mr. Michael Missal, who was sworn in today by Mr. Robert McDonald, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs to lead the Office of Inspector General (OIG). Mr. Missal was nominated to be the Inspector General by President Barack Obama on October 05, 2015, and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on April 19, 2016.
• OIG To Begin Release of Administrative Summaries of Wait Time Investigations
• Three VA Office of Inspector General Projects Receive CIGIE Awards for Excellence
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Statement from the Acting VA Inspector General
  Suggestions from the media and some Members of Congress that the OIG kept secret inappropriate scheduling practices at the Phoenix VA Health Care System are belied by nearly a decade of reporting by the Office of Inspector General. Read the Acting Inspector General’s statement; a chronology of OIG reporting, Keeping Congress and VA Secretary Informed: VA Office of Inspector General’s Reporting on Patient Wait Times from 2005-2014; and the 2008 memorandum of administrative investigation on altered wait times at the Phoenix VA Health Care System.
• Response to Baseless Allegations Regarding the 'Phoenix Report'
  Acting Inspector General's response to media coverage of baseless allegations on the independence and integrity of the Review of Alleged Patient Deaths, Patient Wait Times, and Scheduling Practices at the Phoenix VA Health Care System report.
• Questions and Answers on the Most Significant Aspects of the OIG's 'Phoenix' Report
  Questions and Answers on the Review of Alleged Patient Deaths, Patient Wait Times, and Scheduling Practices at the Phoenix VA Health Care System

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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

• 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
• 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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

• 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
• 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
• 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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 director of Cleveland VA Medical Center sentenced to nearly five years in prison for taking money from design firm
  Former VA employee who was the director of the Cleveland VA Medical Center sentenced to prison for taking bribes and kickbacks to influence VA contracts.
• 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
• 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
• 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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