Kevin Paul McMains, a former Army veteran from Milton, Florida, has been handed a 33-month prison sentence for defrauding the U.S. government. McMains, 44, was found guilty of stealing over three-quarters of a million dollars in disability benefits. In addition to his theft conviction, he also pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to a federal agency. This announcement was made by Jason R. Coody, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Our service members, and their families, make incredible sacrifices to defend our country and are deserving of our deepest respect and the disability benefits intended for our injured patriots,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Consequently, the defendant’s fabrication of documents and false claims of service-connected injuries, to include his assertion he was awarded a Purple Heart, is not only criminal, but repugnant. We remain committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who defraud government disability programs, stealing benefits earned by our veterans.”
McMains committed fraud against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for almost 14 years by unlawfully obtaining over $779,000 in government disability benefits. He accomplished this by submitting fabricated documents and providing false information to VA officials, medical professionals, and in his benefit applications. McMains deceitfully claimed that he was unable to work, take care of himself, or carry out daily activities due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, he falsely stated that he had received a Purple Heart, using it as evidence to support his fraudulent claims.
McMains received over $357,000 in Social Security disability benefits and Medicare coverage that he was not entitled to, in addition to the VA benefits he already received.
“This sentence sends a clear message that veterans who defraud VA by exaggerating their disabilities will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov of the VA Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “VA’s programs and services are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA OIG is committed to investigating those who would exploit these programs.”
McMains defrauded the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicare, resulting in losses of $357,847.80 and $43,451.56, respectively. As a consequence, he has been instructed to fully reimburse these amounts.
After serving his prison sentence, McMains will be under supervised release for an additional two years.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General worked together to investigate this case.