Dorothy Lawson, Government Benefits Fraud, West Virginia 2023

A 66-year-old woman from Tucker County, West Virginia, has been charged with fraudulently collecting government benefits, according to a federal indictment.

Dorothy Lawson, 66, of Hendricks, West Virginia, was charged with one count of "Theft and Conversion of Government Monies" and two counts of "False Statement in Document."

Lawson allegedly collected spousal death benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs from 1995 to at least 2013, despite remarrying in 1995.

She is accused of falsely reporting on government forms that she had never remarried, according to the indictment.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the first count, and up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two counts of false statement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is leading the investigation.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and Lawson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is a reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in government programs, and the need to protect taxpayer dollars from waste and abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/tucker-county-woman-charged-fraudulently-collecting-government-benefits