Sharon M Helman, False Statement to Government Agency, Arizona 2024

PHOENIX – Sharon M. Helman, 45, of Surprise, Ariz., was sentenced to two years of probation by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan for making a false statement to a government agency, a felony offense.

Helman, former director of the Phoenix VA hospital, pleaded guilty to the charges, which stem from her failure to report gifts from a lobbyist while serving as director of the facility from February 2012 to December 2014.

According to court documents, Helman received gifts totaling more than $19,300 in 2013, including an automobile, a check for $5,000, concert tickets, and two round-trip airline tickets. She also failed to report four gifts valued at more than $2,000 in 2012 and six gifts worth over $27,700 in 2014.

The gifts were from a former high-level VA employee who served as Helman’s supervisor and later became an executive consultant and vice president of a consulting and lobbying firm that assisted companies in expanding their business with the VA.

U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo stated, ‘It is crucial that government officials provide accurate information when completing financial disclosure reports. Today’s outcome holds the defendant responsible for failing to report tens of thousands of dollars of gifts.’

FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael D. Deleon added, ‘Our investigation revealed that the former director of the Phoenix VA Medical Center failed to report gifts as required under federal law.’

Michael E. Seitler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northwest Field Office, stated, ‘Financial disclosure requirements are critical to ensuring that VA is able to assess any potential conflict of interest that VA executives may have.’

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of the Inspector General, with the prosecution handled by Frank T. Galati, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

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