A 73-year-old veteran who faked being blind to the Department of Veterans Affairs has pleaded guilty to one count of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars of stolen government money.
Jerry Smith of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe in a recent release.
Smith falsely represented to the VA that he was legally blind and that his vision conditions prevented him from driving, working, and performing various daily functions, according to a plea agreement. Smith received $244,953.70 in VA disability compensation and benefits between 2017 and 2021.
“In reality, Smith’s vision was significantly better than what he had represented during eye examinations and in his statements to the VA, as he could drive, read, navigate around people and obstacles in stores, conduct transactions at cash registers and drive-through ATMs, and worked as a firearms specialist and school guardian,” the release states.
According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Smith served in the Air Force in the 1970s and claimed his vision problems were a result of his work as a welder.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. A sentencing date has not yet been announced.
The release also notes that the DOJ announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division on April 7. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.
“Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs,” the release states.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
