Crooked VA employee
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Ray Davis jr
Nov 16, 2023, 12:52:56 PM11/16/23
to veterans...@googlegroups.com
https://www.valaw.org
Veterans Resources Network
Dear Readers,
If you have contact with a VA employee who has asked for money or gift
cards to help you with your VA benefits claim; THEY ARE A CROOK, do
not pay.
Below is a press release concerning Michael Darrah a former VA
employee who took bribes to expedite veterans claims.
Don't ever pay a VA employee for anything, and if the VA employee does
ask for a bribe? contact the VA Inspector General immediately.
They most likely can't and won't help you, but if they do something
illegal and you go along with it you also could go to jail and lose
your benefits.
OIG Hotline | Department of Veterans Affairs OIG (vaoig.gov)
This also applies to the service groups; American legion, DAV, VFW,
etc. if they ask for money or gifts for helping with your claim then
they are crooks; report them.
Your Editor,
Ray B Davis, jr
PRESS RELEASE
Providence VA Service Representative Indicted on Federal Extortion,
Bribery, Witness Tampering Charges
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Share
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Rhode Island
usari...@usdoj.gov
PROVIDENCE, RI – An indictment unsealed in federal court in Providence
today charges Michael Darrah, a benefits service representative with
the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Providence, with three
counts of bribery and one count each of extortion, gratuity received
by a public official, and witness tampering, announced United States
Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in the indictment that Darrah, 45, of Taunton, MA.,
solicited and accepted bribes from veterans and the family member of a
veteran to approve requested dependent care benefits and/or disability
benefits. It is further alleged that Darrah claimed that some of the
money he sought from his victims would be used to purchase gift cards
for other purported VA employees who Darrah claimed either could or
did assist him in expediting and approving benefits claims.
The indictment alleges that Darrah requested payments and accepted
approximately $3,385 from a veteran, supposedly to “grease the wheels”
to push paperwork through and expedite a claim for disability
benefits; that he corruptly sought and accepted $16,566 from a second
veteran to expedite and approve a claim for disability benefits; and
that he sought and accepted $2,700 from a relative of a third veteran
to expedite and approve the veteran’s benefits claim. Additionally, it
is alleged that Darrah sought and accepted a “gratuity” of
approximately $5,000 from the third veteran for having successfully
used his position at the VA to get other VA employees to expedite and
approve the claims. The indictment alleges that Darrah requested this
“gratuity” despite being advised that the veteran was facing
homelessness as his house was being foreclosed. Finally, it is
alleged that Darrah, after becoming aware of the government’s
investigation into his conduct, attempted to corruptly persuade a
witness not to cooperate with the investigation and to lie about the
nature of payments made to Darrah.
A charge of bribery carries a sentence of up to 15 years in federal
prison; extortion is punishable by a sentence of up to 20 years
imprisonment; witness tampering is punishable by a sentence of up to
25 years imprisonment; and the charge of receipt of a gratuity by a
public official carries a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. If
convicted, the defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal
district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ly T. Chin
and Peter I. Roklan.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the FBI, Defense
Criminal Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection
Service, and Veterans Administration Police.
###
Contact
Jim Martin
(401) 709-5357
Updated November 9, 2023 -end press release
--
Ray B Davis, Jr
https://www.valaw.org
East Flat Rock, NC 28726
Veterans Resources Network
Dear Readers,
If you have contact with a VA employee who has asked for money or gift
cards to help you with your VA benefits claim; THEY ARE A CROOK, do
not pay.
Below is a press release concerning Michael Darrah a former VA
employee who took bribes to expedite veterans claims.
Don't ever pay a VA employee for anything, and if the VA employee does
ask for a bribe? contact the VA Inspector General immediately.
They most likely can't and won't help you, but if they do something
illegal and you go along with it you also could go to jail and lose
your benefits.
OIG Hotline | Department of Veterans Affairs OIG (vaoig.gov)
This also applies to the service groups; American legion, DAV, VFW,
etc. if they ask for money or gifts for helping with your claim then
they are crooks; report them.
Your Editor,
Ray B Davis, jr
PRESS RELEASE
Providence VA Service Representative Indicted on Federal Extortion,
Bribery, Witness Tampering Charges
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Share
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Rhode Island
usari...@usdoj.gov
PROVIDENCE, RI – An indictment unsealed in federal court in Providence
today charges Michael Darrah, a benefits service representative with
the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Providence, with three
counts of bribery and one count each of extortion, gratuity received
by a public official, and witness tampering, announced United States
Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in the indictment that Darrah, 45, of Taunton, MA.,
solicited and accepted bribes from veterans and the family member of a
veteran to approve requested dependent care benefits and/or disability
benefits. It is further alleged that Darrah claimed that some of the
money he sought from his victims would be used to purchase gift cards
for other purported VA employees who Darrah claimed either could or
did assist him in expediting and approving benefits claims.
The indictment alleges that Darrah requested payments and accepted
approximately $3,385 from a veteran, supposedly to “grease the wheels”
to push paperwork through and expedite a claim for disability
benefits; that he corruptly sought and accepted $16,566 from a second
veteran to expedite and approve a claim for disability benefits; and
that he sought and accepted $2,700 from a relative of a third veteran
to expedite and approve the veteran’s benefits claim. Additionally, it
is alleged that Darrah sought and accepted a “gratuity” of
approximately $5,000 from the third veteran for having successfully
used his position at the VA to get other VA employees to expedite and
approve the claims. The indictment alleges that Darrah requested this
“gratuity” despite being advised that the veteran was facing
homelessness as his house was being foreclosed. Finally, it is
alleged that Darrah, after becoming aware of the government’s
investigation into his conduct, attempted to corruptly persuade a
witness not to cooperate with the investigation and to lie about the
nature of payments made to Darrah.
A charge of bribery carries a sentence of up to 15 years in federal
prison; extortion is punishable by a sentence of up to 20 years
imprisonment; witness tampering is punishable by a sentence of up to
25 years imprisonment; and the charge of receipt of a gratuity by a
public official carries a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. If
convicted, the defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal
district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ly T. Chin
and Peter I. Roklan.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the FBI, Defense
Criminal Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection
Service, and Veterans Administration Police.
###
Contact
Jim Martin
(401) 709-5357
Updated November 9, 2023 -end press release
--
Ray B Davis, Jr
https://www.valaw.org
East Flat Rock, NC 28726
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