Mack Cole Jr.; convicted of defrauding VA
According to KSAT, retired Master Sergeant Mack Cole Jr. was convicted in federal court of defrauding the Veterans’ Affairs Department for more than seven years. Investigators took video of Cole mowing his lawn and walking around his home unassisted in spite of his claims that “he no longer had “any ability to walk” and “dreams of walking again.””
By misrepresenting the scope of his injuries, Cole was able to receive a higher level of benefits, adaptations to his home and durable medical equipment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Cole, a retired Army master sergeant, remains free on bond while awaiting sentencing in September.
He faces up to 50 years in prison.
According to the article, the VA has opened 111 investigations for fraud so far this year and they’ve recovered about $125 million in restitution and fines. It seems to me that it would be easier to weed out the fraudsters before they get a check – but that’s just me, I guess.
Category: Veterans' Affairs Department
The VA need to start cracking down on these fools. Some veterans, I know are drawing 100 % SC disability payment from the VA and yet running 2 miles each day and skydiving.. Gimme a break. I can’t walk around the block without pain and I get less than 50 %.
had a kid who claimed to have been in the 75th who said when he outprocessed there was a table set up to be sure they filed for PTSD disability – he’s drawing 100% on top of his pay as a master plumber. Nice, well adjusted kid – almost seemed a little puzzled by his rating, says he has occasional nightmares but not anything he doesn’t handle OK. (No way of knowing if he was BSing, but he definitely knew Benning well.)
$125 million?
Imagine how much fraud, waste, and abuse they uncover if they actually LOOKED.
And then look at the shit committed by DVA employees.
$125 million here, $125 million there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.
Thank you , Mr. Dirksen!
this just pisses me off to no end.
So many get denied for what appears to be no reason at all while this fool gets elevated ratings.
Geebus!!!
I go to the VA every month, like clockwork, for my disability. It is disgusting to see so many veterans who are CLEARLY scamming the VA for benefits. The idea of overstating injuries, faking injuries, and lying about being in combat zones/combat to claim PTSD and other psychological issues is so commonplace that I frequently overhear veterans comparing notes and counseling each other on what to say, how to act, and how to fake particular injuries/disabilities in order to gain a higher percentage. My doc at the VA has been there for nearly 40 years and has endless stories about veterans faking injuries or exaggerating injuries for increased disability percentages and pain medication. He dealt with so many fakers and phonies that he moved to a specialty clinic where it happens less. When he would report potential fraud, the administration sat on their hands and did next to nothing. And 111 cases is nothing- it’s just a drop in the bucket when it comes to VA fraud and abuse. That $125 million is mostly in court judgements; good luck getting that back.
Bureaucracy endangers its own existence by solving the problem it was designed to address. The VA as an institution has no incentive to combat fraudulent claims of disability, which raise its budget, resources, profile, and reason to exist.
Which is why trusting elected officials to solve problems they most likely created in the first place is stupidity writ large.
Yet people vote for lying sacks of shit that promise to fix shit or my personal fave, the, “I’ll fight for you!” drivel.
Well, a dictator ain’t gonna fix it.
The VA disability system works like most people think Social Security disability works. Even if they just adopted Social Security disabilities guidelines and fraud/abuse resource allocations they’d save billions.
But Congress is about as excited to hold scamming veterans accountable as they are tax cheats by hiring more IRS agents. So 110ish cases a year is all we’ll get.
And they are still paying fake POWs.
Sad thing is that people in wheelchairs would trade places with this fool in a minute.
To include some people who are going to be in wheelchairs.
Back in May I was at the VA facility in Chico, CA. Had to call back in a couple of days to the Specialty Clinic. Young lady on the phone said it looked as though I hadn’t been re-evaluated since my 10% plus 10% ratings in ’70. Told me I should ask for a hearing, as I might be able to get raised to 70% or higher. Since I’m still able to go to work 6 days a week, I told her I didn’t see any need for a higher disability rating if I wasn’t disabled, but she just didn’t want to drop it. I finally said that if I was interested I would go to a VSO office and talk to them. I know that her job depends on vets, but maybe her heart wasn’t really in the right place if she thought that givin’ away much-needed VA money to somebody who didn’t need it, as opposed to usin’ it for treating those in need, was the best use for funds. Don’t get me wrong, as I do get most of my care through the VA, and damned good care it has been, but they bill the insurance I have through work so that they’re re-imbursed.
Well, well, well… it does catch up with them.
If only Obama had a brother….
“It seems to me that it would be easier to weed out the fraudsters before they get a check – but that’s just me, I guess.”
As they say Jonn, “That’s too much like right”.
At least they’re doing something and making some progress.
And not to take away anyone’s thunder but Bill Wilted Willy will be here bitching about David “Doc” Schrum in 3……2…….1….
(As well he SHOULD be…sad they can’t throw that fucker in jail too)
Well Mack Cole was an idiot for claiming a physical injury he could be videotaped not suffering. He should have claimed undetectable mental illnesses and then mowed his lawn all he wanted. If he said it helped with his PTSD, he probably could have gotten a free lawnmower to boot.
I hate these SOBs I’m 100 % P&T from my injuries I received in the sandbox I did get a rating for PTS all be it small because I fought to have it reflect reality and not fantasy. most of my issues are from severe nerve damage from being crushed and electrocuted, had my foot re-attach to my leg I’ve got a cable running down my spine and I have a mild TBI and mild PTS the VA was trying to make me unemployable but I wouldn’t do it because I want to work again I’ll go crazy if I don’t
Most of my doctors in the army told me and my wife I was finished… maybe
But I’m not done trying so far this year I’ve spent a total of 6 days in a ER or in a hospital from having black outs but I’ve never stoped trying these assholes don’t seem to understand there are others out here that really need the help and can’t get it, while these shit-bags get the red carpet
I hope this cocksucker does all 50 years as a lesson to others.
“Don’t get caught”
[…] This Ain’t Hell: Coast Guard Commandant Says He Won’t Break Faith With Trannies, also, Mack Cole Jr. Convicted Of Defrauding VA Weasel Zippers: Al Gore’s Home Devours 34% More Electricity Than Average U.S. Household, […]
I think there are a lot of cases where Vets truly are totally screwed up and take a long time to recover. I’ve been 90% disabled but 100% unemployable for years.
I’ve made some progress but I’m not able to do anything remotely like I used to for physical work.
I get a survey from the VA every so often that asks if I have worked anywhere and if so, where( get the same from SSDI). I can honestly say I haven’t.
I can see the temptation someone might see if they have a bad injury that leaves them unable to walk or work and slowly recover.
They probably figure they are better off getting 3200 a month tax free than making about 2600 a month after taxes working blue collar if they are lucky.
I would trade all my pensions to be able to just walk the mail, go grocery shopping and stand up and work the grill.
He also doesn’t pay any property taxes on his house due to his “disability.”
https://propaccess.trueautomation.com/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=116976#