SHREVEPORT, La. – A heinous scheme to swindle the system has come to an end for a Ferriday couple, who have been indicted for their roles in a Veterans Affairs benefits fraud that netted them over $197,000.
Alfred Lewis Jr., 67, and Rose M. Lewis, 63, both of Ferriday, La., have been charged by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds and one count of theft of government funds. According to the indictment, the couple conspired to take approximately $197,784 in Veterans Affairs benefits from January 2004 until November 2013.
The scheme began in July 2003, when the defendants submitted an application to the Department of Veterans Affairs for pension benefits without listing Rose Lewis’ income. The addition of Rose Lewis’ income, which was more than $54,000 in 2008 and 2009, would have made them ineligible to receive the Veterans Affairs benefits.
A separate indictment charges Gloria Lynn Perry, 65, of Bossier City, La., with one count of theft of government funds and one count of false statement in a bankruptcy matter. According to the indictment, Perry illegally received Veterans Affairs benefits on behalf of her mother from April 1, 2008 through July 1, 2014, despite her mother having died in February 2008.
Perry also filed for bankruptcy in 2014 and falsely stated on bankruptcy documents that her income other than employment in the past two years was $7,950 in 2013 and $5,967 in 2014. In reality, she obtained at least $12,000 in 2013 and at least $7,000 in 2014 in Veterans Affairs benefits.
If convicted, all three defendants face up to 10 years in prison for the theft count. The Lewises face up to five years in prison for the conspiracy count, and Perry faces up to five years in prison for the bankruptcy count. They also face three years of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine.
The Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria Jernigan is prosecuting the cases. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Their greed and deceit have finally caught up to them, and now they will face the consequences of their actions. The public should be assured that those who abuse the system will be held accountable.
It’s a stark reminder that the Veterans Affairs system is not a cash cow for those who would seek to exploit it. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the system and bring those who abuse it to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Janet Smith, Mail Fraud, Louisiana, 2023 · Louisiana
- Jeffrey Eugene Rose Sr., Workers Compensation Fraud, Houston TX, 2023 · Texas
- Kevin Ralph Andrus, Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2024 · Louisiana
- Carol John, Passport Fraud, Louisiana 2024 · Louisiana
- Ricky P. Templet, Veterans Benefits Embezzlement, LA 2023 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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