Jeremy Wayne Harrell, Theft of Government Benefits, Kentucky 2024

Shelbyville man, Jeremy Wayne Harrell, 43, has been sentenced to 6 months in prison for theft of government benefits.

According to evidence presented at trial, Harrell intentionally stole money from the United States, specifically U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Individual Unemployability (IU) disability payments that he was not entitled to receive.

Harrell was initially awarded IU benefits in 2011, but in 2019, he founded Veterans Club, Inc., and served as the Founder and CEO of the organization. The evidence showed that Harrell had a high level of work activity for Veterans Club, from 2019 through 2023, including working 40-60 hours per week, actively running the organization, and managing over $400,000 in assets and approximately 6,000 volunteers.

This evidence confirmed that Harrell, as the active and successful Founder and CEO of Veterans Club, could maintain substantial gainful employment, rendering him ineligible to receive the IU benefits that he received from 2019 through 2023. The evidence also showed that Harrell made numerous false statements to the government about his daily life and work activities, depicting himself as withdrawn, without the ability to perform work, when in truth, he was an active and successful CEO of a vibrant organization.

In total, Harrell wrongfully received more than $128,000 in IU benefits. Upon his release from prison, Harrell will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for one year, six months of which will be spent on home detention.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Frankfort, KY – March 25, 2024

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/shelby-county-man-sentenced-theft-government-benefits