Kevin Paul McMains, a 44-year-old Army veteran from Milton, Florida, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for theft of government money and making false statements to a federal agency. This decision was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Our service members, and their families, make incredible sacrifices to defend our country and are deserving of our deepest respect and the disability benefits intended for our injured patriots,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “Consequently, the defendant’s fabrication of documents and false claims of service-connected injuries, to include his assertion he was awarded a Purple Heart, is not only criminal but repugnant. We remain committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who defraud government disability programs, stealing benefits earned by our veterans.”
For nearly 14 years, McMains collected over $779,000 in government disability benefits by providing false information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He submitted fraudulent documentation claiming post-traumatic stress affected his life significantly when it did not. Additionally, he falsely claimed he received a Purple Heart as evidence of service-related injuries. His actions also led him to receive Social Security disability benefits and Medicare coverage unjustly.
“This sentence sends a clear message that veterans who defraud VA by exaggerating their disabilities will be held accountable,” said Dimitriana Nikolov from the VA Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office.
“Mr. McMains defrauded the Social Security Administration (SSA) of $357,847 with fabricated documents that falsely reported his medical condition,” commented Jermaine Jack from SSA Office of the Inspector General's Atlanta Field Division. “I commend the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General and Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General for their invaluable work in this investigation.”
Steven J. Ryan at HHS-OIG added: “Individuals who fraudulently obtain Medicare benefits that they are not entitled to divert taxpayer funds meant to pay for essential health services for legitimate enrollees.”
Alongside his prison sentence, McMains must pay restitution totaling $378,380.82 to the VA, $357,847.80 to SSA, and $43,451.56 to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Following his imprisonment will be two years of supervised release.
The case was investigated jointly by various inspector general offices including those from Veterans Affairs and Health & Human Services. Former Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love alongside Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes prosecuted this case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates under one out of 94 offices directed by the Attorney General.