Patrick John McKenna, Healthcare Fraud, Montana 2023

HELENA MAN SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING VA OF HEALTHCARE BENEFITS

A Helena man who admitted to falsely claiming to have served in the U.S. Navy so he could receive healthcare benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was sentenced to three years of probation, with 180 days of home confinement, and ordered to pay $46,075 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Patrick John McKenna, 66, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to healthcare fraud. He was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris.

The government alleged in court documents that in August 2021, McKenna applied for healthcare benefits with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Health Administration and indicated on his application that he had served with the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1984. Based on his representation of military service, McKenna was approved for healthcare benefits and received VA-funded counseling services. McKenna then applied for additional benefits with the VA Veterans Benefits Administration based on claimed service-related disabilities. VBA representatives searched multiple record systems and were unable to find any record of McKenna’s service.

In an interview with agents from the VA Office of Inspector General, McKenna admitted that he did not serve in the U.S. Navy and that he had applied for healthcare benefits because of the high cost of private healthcare. Agents determined that McKenna’s scheme resulted in a loss of $39,200 to the VHA and $6,975 to the Helena Veteran Center, for a total loss of $46,075.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon L. Clarke and Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case. The VA Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.

McKenna’s scheme resulted in significant financial losses for the VA. He was ordered to pay $46,075 in restitution, which includes $39,200 lost by the VHA and $6,975 lost by the Helena Veteran Center.

With his sentence, McKenna will spend 180 days in home confinement as part of his three-year probation period. He will also have to pay the restitution ordered by the court.

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