Windsor Man Cops to VA Grant Theft, ID Fraud

William Michael Andrews, a 50-year-old Windsor man, is facing federal charges after allegedly looting more than $26,000 in VA grant money meant for homeless veterans — then using their stolen identities to cover his own rent. The scheme, laid bare in a federal indictment, paints a picture of betrayal at the worst possible level: a man entrusted to help the most vulnerable instead weaponized their personal data for personal gain.

Andrews, who worked as a case-worker at an East Bay non-profit agency, allegedly used his access to veterans’ Social Security numbers and other private information to reroute government funds directly to his landlord. The VA grants were specifically designated to cover short-term housing for homeless vets — a lifeline now drained by one man’s greed. Instead of sheltering veterans, the money paid Andrews’ rent, according to the indictment returned by a federal grand jury.

Charged with one count of theft of government property under 18 U.S.C. § 641 and one count of aggravated identity theft under 18 U.S.C. § 1028A, Andrews made his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. Arrested in San Francisco, he was released on an unsecured $50,000 bond. His next court date is set for March 14, 2018, at 10:30 AM, when he’ll appear before U.S. District Judge James Donato.

Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge James Wahleithner announced the charges, emphasizing that aid meant for veterans was instead funneled into a private pocket. The VA Office of Inspector General’s Criminal Investigations Division led the probe, uncovering how Andrews allegedly manipulated the system from within.

If convicted, Andrews faces up to ten years in prison and a fine for the theft charge, plus a mandatory two-year prison term that must be served consecutively for the aggravated identity theft count — along with a possible $250,000 fine. Restitution will also be ordered. The court’s final sentence will follow the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and 18 U.S.C. § 3553, but the message is clear: stealing from veterans carries a steep price.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten is prosecuting the case. The indictment does not prove guilt — Andrews, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But the charges expose a breach of trust that cuts deep in a system already stretched thin protecting those who once served.