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Monmouth County Man Admits Defrauding VA of $200,000
A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man has admitted to defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of over $200,000 in survivor’s pension benefits over 12 years, officials announced.
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, a charge that 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.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the VA 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 VA 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.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig credited 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, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the Violent Crimes Unit in Newark. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 22, 2021, for the 72-year-old defendant.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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