A North Country man has been nailed for gaming the VA system, lying about his employment to pocket disability benefits he didn’t deserve. Alex Cheney, 55, of Moriah, New York, was sentenced today to three years of probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service after admitting to making a false statement to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Cheney, a self-admitted construction worker, signed a VA employment questionnaire claiming he had not worked — or been self-employed — in the previous 12 months. That claim was a flat-out lie. During that same period, he was actively employed in construction, pulling in wages while pretending to be too disabled to hold a job.
The fraud centered on Individual Unemployability benefits — a VA program meant for veterans whose service-connected disabilities prevent them from maintaining gainful employment. By falsely certifying his unemployment, Cheney manipulated the system to qualify for payments intended for those truly unable to work.
The scam didn’t last. Federal investigators with the VA Office of Inspector General dug into Cheney’s work history and uncovered the deception. The case was then handed to federal prosecutors in Albany, where Cheney ultimately pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federal agency.
U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, who oversaw the prosecution, emphasized that fraud against veterans’ programs undermines trust and steals resources from those in genuine need. “This sentencing sends a message: we’re watching, and we’ll hold accountable anyone who exploits the VA system for personal gain,” Jaquith said.
The case was investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, under Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda. Cheney’s probation includes strict monitoring, a reminder that federal fraud convictions carry real consequences — even without prison time.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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