A shocking case of deception has led to the conviction of Edmond Deslatte, 46, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., who pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federal agent in connection with an investigation into his disability benefits payments.
According to the Department of Justice, Deslatte admitted making a false statement during an April 2011 interview with a special agent with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. At the time, Deslatte was receiving 100% disability benefit payments from the VA, despite being employed full-time.
During his plea hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Aleta A. Trauger, Deslatte confessed to falsely representing that medication prescribed for his medical condition had rendered him disabled and unable to work. However, he admitted to not taking the medication as claimed. Deslatte’s misrepresentations were made in an effort to continue receiving disability benefit payments from the VA.
The investigation revealed that Deslatte’s actions resulted in an intended loss of approximately $148,000. In May 2014, a VA physician determined that Deslatte did not suffer from the medical condition that had supposedly rendered him disabled, and the VA subsequently terminated his disability payments.
Deslatte faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2017, and will be imposed by Judge Trauger after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.
The case was investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely. This conviction serves as a reminder that making false statements to receive benefits is a serious crime with significant consequences.
The conviction of Edmond Deslatte highlights the importance of honesty and integrity in the application process for disability benefits. The VA relies on accurate information to determine eligibility for benefits, and false statements can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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