Endicott Sentenced for $56K VA Fraud Scheme

PORTLAND, Ore. – The grimy halls of justice were shaken this week as Bruce A. Endicott, a former employee of the Oregon Department of Justice and Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, was sentenced to probation for his brazen theft of over $56,000 from federal agencies. Endicott, 34, pleaded guilty to stealing government funds after he admitted to a three-year scheme of deception.

Endicott began his fraudulent odyssey in 2005 by fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits from the VA, even though he was working under a false Social Security number. He continued his deceitful dance through the years, collecting IU benefits and welfare assistance while keeping his real employment hidden.

The court records detailed Endicott’s elaborate lies: he failed to disclose his work at the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office and applied for welfare benefits using a different Social Security number. His duplicity led to unjust enrichment, costing taxpayers and genuinely deserving veterans whose benefits were delayed or denied.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Jones showed no leniency, sentencing Endicott to three years of probation, 250 hours of community service, and the mandatory repayment of every dollar he pilfered. The judge also ordered Endicott to undergo mental health treatment as a condition of his probation.

Endicott’s fraudulent spree, which included purchasing a $65,000 truck instead of paying child support and restitution, highlighted the detrimental impact on the VA and Oregon DHS systems. The court warned him that any further transgressions would result in a far harsher sentence.

This case was an outcome of a joint investigation by the VA Office of Inspector General, Oregon DHS, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Helen Cooper, under the partnership venture between federal and state law enforcement agencies.