Greenwood Man Sentenced to 20 Months for Conspiring to Defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs

Columbia, South Carolina – United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today that Charles B. Harris, age 48, of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Anderson for conspiracy to defraud the United States.

On February 6, 2014, agents interviewed Harris at the Greenwood Barber College. Harris admitted to helping veterans sign up for the Veteran Retraining Assistance Program and other VA programs offering financial aid for career training.

Harris further admitted that he would not require the veterans to actually attend classes at the Greenwood Barber College and that he would falsify records documenting the attendance and performance of the veterans.

So long as the veterans paid Harris $400 per month, he kept them enrolled in the school.

The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain of Anderson sentenced Harris to 20 months imprisonment and ordered him to pay over $45,000 in restitution.

Harris owned and operated the Greenwood Barber College, which was approved by the VA to teach veterans the skill of barbering. Harris was the certifying official who agreed to accurately monitor and report student attendance and academic progress.

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