The former spouse of a deceased U.S. Army veteran has pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming military benefits. Miranda Rachel Briggs, also known as "Miranda Rachel Fisher," aged 34 from Rincon, Georgia, admitted to wire fraud charges, according to Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. This plea could result in a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, along with significant financial penalties and restitution.
"Programs that financially benefit surviving family members of deceased veterans are designed to provide a safety net to those survivors," stated U.S. Attorney Steinberg. "This guilty plea demonstrates the tenacity of investigators and prosecutors in dismantling this scheme."
Briggs's fraudulent activities began in November 2015 when she married G.B., a U.S. Army veteran, while retaining her maiden name "Fisher." The couple divorced less than a year later, and two weeks after their divorce was finalized, the Department of Veterans Affairs removed Briggs as a beneficiary of G.B.'s benefits at his request.
In January 2018, Briggs filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, certifying her divorce from G.B. Following G.B.'s death two weeks later, she falsely claimed VA benefits as his surviving spouse. In April 2018, she also claimed spousal status when applying for benefits from the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Through these false claims, Briggs obtained approximately $49,000 for medical care and around $80,000 in benefits from the VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Program.
Despite an initial denial by the VA regarding her claim to survivor benefits, Briggs submitted additional documents asserting that she remained married to G.B. until his death in 2018. Consequently, she was granted these benefits after changing her name legally from Miranda Rachel Fisher to Miranda Rachel Briggs in Chatham County Superior Court. In April 2021, she became the administrator of G.B.'s estate by claiming widowhood in Chatham County Probate Court.
However, in March 2023, Chatham County Probate Court removed her as administrator upon discovering her divorced status at G.B.'s time of death.
U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood will schedule Briggs's sentencing following a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
"This guilty plea holds the defendant accountable for defrauding vital VA programs that provide monetary benefits for survivors of service members and veterans," said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the VA OIG Southeast Field Office. "The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out fraudulent activity and seek prosecution against those who would compromise the integrity of VA’s programs and services."
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Z. Spitulnik and Patricia G. Rhodes.