Michael Joyce, Theft of Government Funds, New York 2024

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Michael Joyce, 53, and Sarah Joyce (aka Sarah Shultis), 33, formerly of Rochester, NY, are facing serious federal charges after allegedly scamming the Department of Veterans Affairs out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today a grand jury indictment accusing the pair of theft of government funds, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The scheme, according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, began in April 2016 when Michael Joyce submitted claims for disability compensation, citing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a back issue. After numerous evaluations, he received a 100% disability rating for PTSD, 30% for TBI, and 40% for his back. In February 2018, he pushed for permanent and total disability (PTD) status, which would eliminate required re-evaluations and unlock additional benefits. In his application, Joyce claimed his conditions were worsening, stating his PTSD hadn’t improved and that he felt he would die if he left the house.

That PTD status was granted in April 2018. Then, in November 2017, the couple applied for Sarah Joyce to receive payments through the VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP), asserting Michael Joyce was completely dependent on her for basic life functions – feeding, bathing, and dressing. Sarah Joyce was approved, receiving a retroactive payment of $8,345.82 and then a monthly stipend of $2,890.14. As of March 2024, that scheme had netted Sarah Joyce over $250,000 in payments.

But investigators weren’t buying it. A deep dive into Michael Joyce’s Army personnel file and interviews with his former unit members revealed glaring inconsistencies. Unit members stated Joyce never deployed to a combat zone. Surveillance conducted by investigators painted a different picture than the one Joyce presented to the VA. They documented him walking normally, driving a vehicle, and performing strenuous tasks like climbing ladders and shoveling snow – activities hardly consistent with a man claiming total disability.

The investigation was a joint effort led by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, under Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher F. Algieri of the Northeast Field Office. They’ve built a case suggesting the Joyces weren’t just seeking benefits; they were actively deceiving the system.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani is prosecuting the case. It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation. Both Michael and Sarah Joyce are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the evidence suggests a calculated attempt to exploit a system designed to support those who have genuinely served and sacrificed for this country. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.

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RELATED: Rochester Duo Bilks VA Out of $606k in Disability Scam

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