Melvin Greenspan, Conversion of Government Funds, New Jersey 2021

A Monmouth County man has admitted to defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs out of over $200,000 in survivor’s pension benefits. Melvin Greenspan, 72, of Perrineville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conversion of government funds.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the Department of Veterans Affairs provided survivor’s pension benefits to Greenspan’s mother because of Greenspan’s father’s prior military service. Those benefits, intended only for surviving spouses of military members, were made through electronic funds transfers into Greenspan’s mother’s bank account beginning in September 1971 and continuing after that date.

After Greenspan’s mother died in 2006, Greenspan did not notify the Department of Veterans Affairs about his mother’s death and made withdrawals of the survivor’s pension benefits from his mother’s bank account between 2006 and 2018, totaling $201,166.

The charge of conversion of government funds carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for November 22, 2021.

This case was investigated by special agents of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.

Greenspan’s actions were a brazen effort to line his own pockets at the expense of the Department of Veterans Affairs and its beneficiaries. His guilty plea serves as a reminder that those who abuse the trust placed in them will be held accountable.

Melvin Greenspan, 72, of Perrineville, New Jersey, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 22, 2021 for his role in the defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs of over $200,000 in survivor’s pension benefits.

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