Brandi Goldman, Misusing Disability Payments, Arkansas 2023

LITTLE ROCK — In a shocking case of exploitation, a Jonesboro woman was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for misusing more than $143,000 in disability payments intended for her injured veteran husband.

Brandi Goldman, 49, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. at the Federal Courthouse in Little Rock. The sentence includes 20 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $143,000 in restitution.

Goldman was married to a United States Army Reservist who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in a service-connected accident in 2013. The veteran had many serious physical challenges, and Goldman was appointed as his guardian. She signed a fiduciary agreement with Veterans Affairs (VA) detailing the terms of her management of his finances.

From April 2015 to November 2017, Goldman received $258,613.54 in VA disability payments and $36,000 in Social Security payments. During that timeframe, she withdrew $199,649.30 in cash and accrued about $900 in ATM and overdraft fees. Goldman admitted to spending much of the cash to fund her methamphetamine habit and to purchasing various items, including a vehicle, a motor home, and furnishings for another home.

The VA Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Liza Brown prosecuted the case for the United States. Goldman pleaded guilty to misappropriation by a fiduciary in exchange for the other count being dismissed.

To steal from a veteran who is incapacitated is an egregious crime, said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Breen of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. Today’s sentence should send a clear message that the VA OIG will vigorously investigate those who would exploit our nation’s most vulnerable veterans.

The case against Goldman serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in the management of public funds. It is a reminder that those who exploit and steal from others will be held accountable for their actions.

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