Man gets fraudulent VA benefits for almost 30 years

[Ray Davis jr]

The article below shows a Non-veteran receiving VA benefits for almost 30 years by pretending to be a veteran. 

Real veterans have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get VA benefits and then are denied for years and years. But a pretender can get benefits fairly easy through the VA. 

It doesn't make any sense how the VA works, but that's the VA. 

Sincerely,

Ray B Davis Jr

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DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO THIRTY MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR 

DECADES-LONG Vetetand IDENTITY THEFT AND FRAUD SCHEME

May 7, 2026, United States District Court Judge Rebecca Pennell sentenced Raymond Kenneth 

Musgrove, age 78, to 30 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised 

release, and ordered him to pay $1,025,544.69 in restitution to the United States. The Court also 

imposed a $1,100 special assessment.

 He impersonated a real Vietnam veteran to unlawfully obtain government benefits and 

services.

According to court records and evidence presented, Musgrove engaged in a fraudulent scheme 

spanning more than 25 years. 

Beginning as early as 1997, he assumed the identity of a real 

individual, identified in court documents as J.M.C., a United States Marine Corps veteran who 

served in Vietnam. 

While posing as J.M.C., Musgrove obtained Veterans Affairs compensation 

benefits, received healthcare services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, opened 

financial accounts using the victim’s identity, and submitted false statements and documentation 

to maintain and reinstate benefits.

Even after the real J.M.C. died in 2018, Musgrove continued the scheme by falsely claiming the 

death had been reported in error and successfully persuaded agencies to resume benefit 

payments. 

The fraud continued until 2023, when his attempts to obtain additional benefits led to 

the discovery of the scheme.

In total, Musgrove fraudulently obtained more than $860,000 in federal benefits, contributing to 

the total restitution amount ordered in this matter. 

District Court Judge Rebecca Pennell, before imposing sentence, told Musgrove, “Your offense 

conduct was lengthy and very troubling. I don’t think it can be fairly characterized as just a 

mistake . . . You had been living a lie for decades.”

 Judge Pennell went on to note Musgrove 

seemingly had no concern for how his actions would impact the victim or his family, and that his 

pattern of putting himself before others “stops today.” 

 

Ray B Davis, Jr

https://www.valaw.org

East Flat Rock, NC 28726