Vet Fund Fraud: MA Man Admits to $50K Scam

CONCORD, NH – A Massachusetts man has confessed to betraying those who served our country, pleading guilty today to defrauding a New Hampshire nonprofit and stealing funds earmarked for desperately needed mental health services for at-risk veterans. The scheme, exposed by a joint investigation, saw David Duren, also known as Dawud Hakiem Duren, 48, siphon off money intended to prevent veteran suicide.

According to court documents, Duren, while employed as a program manager for a Nashua-based nonprofit healthcare provider, was entrusted with overseeing a $750,000 Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This grant was a lifeline, meant to provide crucial treatment and services to veterans battling suicidal thoughts. Instead, Duren saw an opportunity for personal gain.

Duren recommended the healthcare provider hire a shadowy entity called “E3 Foundation” to deliver services under the grant. What the provider didn’t know was that Duren was the man behind E3 Foundation, operating under the false identity of “Dr. Michael Rapp” in emails and phone calls. This elaborate charade allowed him to funnel grant money to his own pockets. He utilized an online “Invoice Generator” to fabricate bills for services never rendered, a blatant disregard for the veterans he was supposed to be helping.

The fraud netted Duren nearly $50,000 in stolen funds, and he attempted to secure an additional $25,000 before his scheme unraveled. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation that quickly exposed Duren’s deception. The stolen funds represent a direct theft from a program designed to save lives, a particularly cruel betrayal given its purpose.

Duren pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante. He now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 – or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the fraud, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for October 10, 2024. The final sentence will be determined by Judge Laplante, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prey on vulnerable populations, especially veterans, will be held accountable. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.

RELATED: Bill Wang Sentenced for Sanctioned Iranian Oil Plot

RELATED: Armenian Passport Fraud: LA Gang Steals $1.5M from Banks