VA-appointed money managers take disabled vets to the cleaners
The Houston Chronicle reports that, despite warnings from the DAV DVA’s Office of the Inspector General, VA-appointed fiduciaries have been picking the pockets of disabled veterans to the tune of millions of dollars;
In the past decade, twice as many Texans have been prosecuted for stealing from disabled veterans enrolled in the VA fiduciary program as in any other state, records obtained by the Houston Chronicle show. More than 20 veterans’ family members and trusted members of the community — including a former police officer, a federal employee and optometrist — have been convicted and others, including two attorneys, face pending charges of stealing from disabled veterans whose assets they’d been assigned to protect, according to court records from across the state.
Many sordid swindles were perpetuated on veterans too ill or disabled to report the crimes, records show. Some crimes went undetected for years before being uncovered through tips, thieves’ confessions or the VA’s own infrequent checks, interviews with attorneys and court records show.
Some were kids stealing from their own parents, but most were supposed to be trusted professionals. You should probably read all of the stories to protect yourselves. The VA says in the article that thefts are rare. Yeah, well, they’re only rare if it’s not happening to you.
The VA also claims that they’ve tightened oversight, but that remains to be seen. I’m not exactly sure that some DVA bureaucrat is as concerned about my money as I am.
Category: Veterans' Affairs Department
Do you mean DVA, or DAV?
To tighten oversight, the VA will have to hire hundreds of accountants, CPA, and attorneys.
Unfortunately, todays unemployed herds of graduates can’t handle reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. But they can program an iPod in seconds.
I’d say the thieves are safe.
Think I read where Texas has either the most or second-most military retirees of any state, so logically you could assume twice as many assholes preying on them as well. If convicted, they should forfeit all their worldy wealth to the vet(s) they stole from and thrown into the street to beg.
I can attest to some of that action. Found out a certain person gained trust, got put in control of what turned out to be some serious dollars and the entire amounts weren’t being passed on to the vets involved. What a cigar and Jack Daniel celebration day was after the individual in question caught a stretch. Yes siree bob.
That is terrible…its sad to hear of this happening to anyone let a lone a vet for which I am entirely biased and will always be. I know some counties have departments dedicated to handle old folks (that are a lone for whatever reason) finances and estates so as to keep them from being ripped off or abused or tricked. Maybe they should add vets to these programs.
I know it just sounds like more government and more chance of abuse but why not the va….they already have patient advocacy…sounds like could be a great fit. Shit maybe make the unit/organization they served for do it…you know those staff types that don’t do much don’t go to formations don’t pt etc….they need a job.