Stolen Valor creep in MD DVA
MCPO Ret. In TN sends us a link to an article in the Baltimore Sun which tells the tale of David Clark, formerly the deputy chief of claims at the Maryland Department of Veterans’ Affairs who used his position to get higher payouts for his friends and then took kickbacks from them. In addition, he helped them get credit for service and awards they never had, as well as padding his own resume`.
He saved some of his best work for himself, prosecutors say, claiming that he had been awarded medals including the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallant Cross and the National Service Defense Medal. He allegedly received benefits and waivers worth $153,633 between 1995 and 2012.
Clark is charged with wire fraud alongside eight other veterans, for whom he is accused of securing the benefits. Neither Clark nor his attorney could be reached for comment, and no court dates have been set in the case.
Phil Munley, the director of the Veterans Service and Benefits Program at the Maryland veterans department, said the agency conducted an investigation after learning of the allegations about Clark last spring.
Yeah, but folks are stacked up waiting on legitimate claims to be approved.
Joe Moore, a partner at Bergmann & Moore, a law firm that represents veterans making claims, said the department’s outdated systems make it more difficult to catch schemes like the one in which Clark is accused.
“It’s the kind of thing that if the VA were not 10 years behind the rest of the government, forget about the private economy … just would never have happened,” he said.
The charges stem from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general’s investigation, which reported that it pursued 21 cases of fraudulent benefits claims in the most recent fiscal year, and Moore said he’s seen other cases like Clark’s.
“It goes on a lot where local guys like him take money on the side,” he added.
While the rest of us sit and wait patiently.
Category: Phony soldiers
betting this ass is just one of many, and how many fraudulent claims did he push through the system? More phonies and the like, who did not mind paying out a little for their lifetime of unearned benefits.
deputy chief of claims at the Maryland Department of Veterans’ Affairs
And remember, kids, our boy Sealy McChippendale hails from Maryland.
Curiouser and curiouser…
Question for all,
Has anyone at the records center or at a DVA or whatever other states are called even tried to forge a DD-214 for themselves. Not necessarily to get bennies but just to say you were a vet. For instance (and no, I don’t work there and no, I am NOT a veteran), if I did work at the records center in St. Louis, could I, in theory, forge a document to say I did serve at the appropriate time and place, file it away and then have it be part of the official record? Is such a thing even possible?
I don’t know why I am asking nor am I trying to hint that someone should. I just read this story above and that’s what popped into my mind. Just curious. Thanks
Andy Kravetz, reporter
Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star
akravetz@pjstar.com
If they are 10 years behind the rest of the government in tech, they are 15 years behind private sector employers.
That’s inexcusable that there is still a system that allows this scale of fraud at a local level. Instead of using his position to serve those he was tasked with assisting, he chose to serve himself by taking from deserving veterans and giving to himself. Short of stealing from an orphanage I can’t see how you could get much lower than this….
There is no doubt that a DD-214 and other discharge paperwork, even orders could be forged.
As well as medical documentation, though that too can be altered.
Modern technology works in the favor of the corrupt right now, especially since DoD and VA don’t talk the same language technology wise…. no sharing of information un an efficient manner at all.
Only one of many:
http://www.vawatchdog.org/
rb325th: bingo. The Baltimore VA office has a pretty bad reputation. Doesn’t surprise me at all he hailed from there. And in the VA’s defense here – it’s hard to do the right thing when a trusted insider goes bad and is corrupting the process from the inside.
Per the Baltimore Sun article, they’ve managed to document $1.4+ million in fraudulent claims this guy facilitated. I’d guess that’s at most 10% or so of what he actually managed to do – and maybe only about 1%.
Assholes like this deserve more time than they’ll ever possibly get in court. I personally hope he gets many years – and a 6′ 4″, 230lb cellmate nicknamed “Holmes” whose best friend is bona fide disabled vet.
I would not be surprised if 10% or more of the VA’s budget goes to pay for compensation, medical care, etc . . . , that’s based on fraudulent claims. Crap like this goes on all the time and has for years. Burkett and Whitley documented plenty of stuff like this nearly 15 years ago in Stolen Valor. It’s only gotten worse since then.
Andy Kravetz: no personal knowledge. But as many past espionage rings have shown, it’s virtually impossible to protect against a “dirty” trusted insider. There’s not enough $$$ to put everything under multi-person control.
For the older paper records at NPRC I’d guess what you describe would be possible. How long it would go undetected is anyone’s guess. If it was a good enough fake in a large population (like Vietnam-era records), I’d guess it might not be detected for a long time.
My impression is that it would be harder to do with the on-line systems now in use (since 2002, the Army has maintained electronic records for Army vets/retirees and given NPRC access to those vice sending them a paper copy). However, given a “dirty” trusted insider, even that might be possible. It might be difficult to fabricate an entire new digital record, but I’d guess getting something bogus into an existing record would probably be possible with inside help.
I was just wondering due to the story and because a guy here is wanting me to do a story on him for earning Three BSMs and one of those with valor from the Vietnam War. I was going to check with Mary later to see if he’s legit. That, to me, is a shame. That I can’t trust a guy who emails me about a story until I check his records.
rb325th: that’s probably my primary beef with the VA. At least in the past, they apparently routinely accepted virtually any documentation given to them by an applicant regarding former military service. They don’t seem to cross-check this against official records at NPRC and/or the services. They may in some places do a better job regarding checking documentation today, but I’d guess others are still very “applicant friendly” (AKA “we take anything”).
Burkett and Whitley documented this in Stolen Valor nearly 15 years ago. Even then, how damn hard would it to have (1) required applicants to sign a SF180, and (2) for the VA to establish a small liaison office (3-4 people) at NPRC to assist with verification at that end? Hell, with electronic records now held by the services post-retirement/discharge, you don’t even need that for current vets. All that’s needed would be for the VA to make arrangements for selected personnel to have on-line access to those records, and a requirement for the vet to sign a SF180 as a part of VA inprocessing giving the VA access to his/her records for verification.
This is neither rocket science nor infeasible. I can’t necessarily speak for the other services, but I can for the Army. I retired from the USAR some years ago. My records are still available on-line at HRC. I can still access them. They’re the same ones that would be accessed by NPRC.
@9 Andy–sad that it comes to that, but would be worse if you just accepted his story at face value without any fact checking on your part.
To be fair, virtually ANY document, paper or electronic, can be forged if the forger is determined enough. The level to which forgery can deceive is of course dependent upon the effort put into it, and the audience upon which the fraud is perpetrated.
But one thing cannot be faked–DUPLICATION. If, for instance, a guy has a DD-214 that looks “too good to be true,” it can and should be backed up with an FOIA request, looking into AKO, Navy Online, etc. Unless this guy is a super-dooper genius, chances are slim to none that they were able to pull off the level of sophistication needed to fool the bureaucracy as well.
They may be slow, they may be stupid, but those bureaucrats are thorough, and they’re EVERYWHERE.
Andy: you could also tell him you need to exercise due diligence and verify his military records before you can do the article – then ask him to fill out and sign a SF180 giving you access to his records. The SF180 is available here:
http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
If he balks, IMO that’s a huge red flag.
I would not be surprised if 10% or more of the VA’s budget goes to pay for compensation, medical care, etc . . . , that’s based on fraudulent claims.
If it were that low, I’d be amazed. Look at Medicare/Medicaid fraud in the medical field, and then tell me it isn’t at least as bad at the DVA.
Since there is already some confusion –
Clark worked for the State of Maryland, in their (State)Department of Veterans Affairs and was uncovered by a (Federal) Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general’s investigation.
The referenced story mentions a “National Service Defense Medal” as a phonied-up award. If the accused served for a specific time, he was due the National Defense Service Medal.” The reporter should have double checked. As for the “Republic of Vietnam Gallant Cross,” every U.S. service member who served in RVN was awarded the Cross of Gallantry by the RVN legislature in 1972.
Old Soldier: good point – I missed that distinction. Misread it that he worked for the DVA in Maryland.
He’s not technically an “insider” per se, but is still someone that I (and likely the VA) would consider a “trusted agent”. And he’d definitely be in a position and have the knowledge necessary to create good-quality fakes of military documentation from various eras, and to know what was common based on history.
NHSparky: you could well be right. But even 10% is nothing to sneeze at.
The VA will pay approx $29 billion in compensation this year. I’d guess they’ll spend about that on veterans’ health care too (haven’t looked that one up). Even 10% fraud equates to nearly $6 billion.
That level of extra resources would allow the VA to make one helluva dent in their backlog problem. Might also allow better care, or expanding dual compensation below the current 50% “cut line”.
I hop he gets the meanest and most sadistic ass-raper in his prison for a cellmate once he gets there. “Pretty Boys” like him are usually wanted for “wives” the most!
Proud Infidel: agreed. See comment 7 for one additional suggestion regarding his cellmate.
“He [David Clark] allegedly made up records including Vietnam tours, Purple Hearts and chronic illnesses caused by exposure to Agent Orange….He saved some of his best work for himself, prosecutors say, claiming that he had been awarded medals including the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallant Cross and the National Service Defense Medal.”
There was another David Clark. He was an Army infantryman, a PFC. On 29 August 1968, at the age of 19, he arrived in Vietnam. Before a month had elapsed, he was among the Fallen, killed by small arms fire in Quang Tri Province. There were a total of 50 men named Clark who lost their lives in Vietnam. So, why do I bring this up? I honestly don’t know but I was moved to do so when I read what this guy allegedly claimed and allegedly did. If he is guilty, may he rot somewhere and his name be forgotten.
The Maryland DVA was audited a couple of years ago (2010) and—wouldn’t you know it!—serious deficiencies were found in the agency’s financial accountability elements. The bells, buzzers, and alarms should have been sounding wildly at the General Assembly and, of course, the Governor’s mansion. But I guess O’Malley was too busy with other issues. A few of the audit’s findings were repeated from prior audits, meaning that nothing was done by anyone to address the known problems. This is just a wild guess, but the smart money says that now that the Baltimore Sun has the story of the indictments on its front page, O’Malley will be asking some questions besides, “What time is lunch?” If anyone would like to look at the audit’s findings, here’s the link:
http://www.ola.state.md.us/Reports/Fiscal%20Compliance/VetAff10.pdf
@19, Hondo: Indeed! I wish for it to happen just as much you and the vast majority of the folks here, and “Holmes”‘s real name? Ben Dover!!
Look people the VA is a crack whores paradise!! Do you understand MEE!!! Didnt George Carlin tell you that??? He said its that same political fuckin billy club they beat you over the head with at every VFW Bingo Game?? OH NO?? Okay well ill convince you. Ever notice friend at a VFW Bingo game the fuckin little PHOONEY BINGO cards THEY HAND OUT have all the same numbers on all the same cards?? Huh?? Well did ya?? Its called a rigged or loaded game! They VFW get money from the pimp oboozo and they run a crap table where veterans always lose?? Ever notice the tater chips are $3.oo bucks a fuckin bag at VFW hall? DAV VFW AMVETS American Legion? American Legion The veterans hoe who is turned out by the VA. Heres another one Allied Vets Florida sound familiar!! They always say nice things about the VA all the time and how hard the VA secretary works. Yeah at doin nuthin and given himself raises son of a bitch hit and run mother fucker. These federal thug kock suckers dont give a rats ass bout you!! Nice clothes fine wines expensive homes on demand hot water in the house yachts retirement after 3 years of illegal thug VA service. young pussy endless vacations nice federal jobs without applying to USA jobs. What bout the working man what do i get!! Jac shit!! thats what!! ITS CALLED THE BIG CLUB AND YOU AND ME AINT IN IT!! GOT THAT FRIEND?? WE AINT IN IT. But far be it from me to stop you from playing Bingo and buying beer and smokes at the VFW> yup go right ahead have a heart attack and in your coffin your arms be folded over your claims denial letter from DAV VFW VA ect ect ect OBAMA IS THE PIMP SHIN SAKI IS THE HOE AND YOU AND I ARE THE JOHNS!! GOT THAT!! Alive your a liability!! Dead your claim dies with you!!! Think bout that next time you decide to support DAV MBA QMp ect ect AMVET American Legion VFW… Read more »