- Massachusetts Woman Pleaded Guilty to Stealing Government Benefits
10/3/2023From July 2019 to August 2021, Karen Nolan of Norwood, Massachusetts, stole Social Security disability and workers’ compensation benefits by falsely reporting to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs that a medical disability had prevented her from working since 2017. Nolan, who was actively employed at a dermatology practice during this period, pleaded guilty to theft of public funds and making false statements following an investigation by the VA OIG, SSA OIG, and the Insurance Bureau of Massachusetts..
- Los Angeles VA Police Officer Indicted on Federal Civil Rights and Assault Charges for Beating Man
10/3/2023Juan Anthony Carrillo, a VA Police officer, allegedly used a department-issued baton to illegally strike a man approximately 45 times in 41 seconds at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. The victim, who sustained injuries to his legs that included bleeding and lacerations, had been detained by another officer when Carrillo arrived at the scene. Most of Carrillo’s baton strikes were allegedly delivered while the other officer was on top of the victim, who, according to the indictment, was much smaller in stature than either of the officers. The VA OIG, FBI, and VA’s Office of Security and Law Enforcement are investigating this case..
- Houston Physician and Two Pharmacists Indicted for $170 Million Fraud Scheme
9/28/2023Houston pharmacist Shalondria Simpson, along with her business partner, Shayla Bryant, allegedly paid Simpson’s twin sister, physician Lashondria Simpson-Camp, and others illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for prescriptions that were often medically unnecessary. Between 2016 and 2022, they allegedly conspired to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program, which administers workers’ compensation benefits on behalf of the Federal Employee’s Compensation Act. In total, Simpson submitted approximately $170 million in fraudulent claims through the labor compensation program. The three defendants were indicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. The VA OIG, US Postal Service OIG, Department of Labor OIG, and FBI are investigating the case..
- Tampa Woman Convicted for Stealing VA Benefits Intended to Assist Disabled Veterans
9/27/2023Melanie Marshall of Tampa, Florida, was found guilty of theft of government funds for stealing from the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. Although Marshall was eligible for the program, which assists veterans with service-connected disabilities find employment, she lied to her vocational rehabilitation counselor in order to continue receiving benefits beyond what had been approved. After failing to report that she had completed a degree in December 2015, she lied on multiple occasions regarding her progress. As a result of Marshall’s lies, the VA continued to pay for classes and issue monthly subsistence allowance payments totaling $20,986.92. This case was investigated by the VA OIG and Social Security Administration OIG..
- Professor and Yale University Agree to Pay $1.5 Million for Failing to Share Patent Royalties with VA
9/26/2023Dr. John Krystal and Yale University have agreed to pay more than $1.5 million to resolve False Claims Act and common law allegations that they failed to disclose certain patents and failed to share patent royalties with the VA for inventions made by Dr. Krystal. At the time of the inventions, Dr. Krystal was employed part-time at Yale while also employed part-time at the VA medical center in West Haven, Connecticut. In 2006, Dr. Krystal and other co-inventors registered patents for treatments for depression and suicidal ideation and did not disclose the patents to the VA. In 2015, they began receiving royalty payments, now totaling more than $3 million.
