A St. Louis County man has admitted to stealing $106,245 in Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits by fraudulently claiming various medical conditions.
Charles Adams, 50, of Berkeley, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to theft of government funds.
Adams underwent multiple medical evaluations after he applied for increased disability benefits due to service-connected degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis. In April 2017, he reported difficulty getting out of bed some mornings and an inability to stand for extended lengths of time. A Department of Veterans Affairs examiner noted that Adams walked slowly and with a marked limp.
However, soon after the examination and again in March 2018, Adams performed various strenuous exercises with high levels of resistance, including deep squats, leg presses with over 800 pounds of resistance, rope pulldowns, and other high-intensity exercises that were inconsistent with the level of back limitations he demonstrated at his examinations, his plea agreement says.
Videos posted to Instagram show Adams lifting heavy weights and squatting, in late 2017 and March 2018. The videos contradict Adams’ claims that he was limited in his abilities to lift, squat, bend, stand, walk, and sit, his plea agreement says.
Adams is scheduled to be sentenced October 25. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. He will also be ordered to repay the money.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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