A West Virginia woman has admitted to stealing approximately $181,713.58 in Department of Veterans Affairs survivor’s benefits.
Jessica Horton, 53, of Matewan, pleaded guilty on June 21. According to court documents and statements made in court, Horton’s great-aunt was awarded VA Survivor’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits after the death of her husband in World War II. The great-aunt began receiving the monthly benefits on May 1, 1945.
“My grandfather fought in World War II. The theft committed in this case is a slap in the face to those who earn these hard-fought-for benefits,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson in a release. “That this fraud went on for as long as it did makes it all the more deplorable.”
Beginning in or around 1964, the benefits were mailed to the great aunt’s post office box in Matewan. The benefit entitlement ended on Feb. 21, 1999, when Horton’s great-aunt died. However, Horton’s mother had access to the post office box and Horton admitted that her great-aunt’s name was fraudulently signed on the benefits after her death to allow Horton’s mother to receive the benefits and convert them to her own use.
Horton’s mother fraudulently received the monthly benefits until her death on Feb. 14, 2011. After her mother’s death, Horton took over the post office box and began signing her great-aunt’s name to receive the monthly benefits. Horton admitted she knew she was not entitled or authorized to sign her great aunt’s name on the benefits.
Horton deposited the benefits in various bank accounts at a Williamson bank where she was an account owner and signatory and converted the money to her own use.
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Horton admitted that from around March 2011 until on or around Dec. 31, 2022, she knowingly and willfully took approximately $181,713,58 in VA survivor’s benefits that she was not entitled or authorized to receive. The monthly benefits were terminated by the VA on or around Jan. 12, 2023.
Horton is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,00 fine. Horton also owes $181,713.58 in restitution.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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