Tiffany Ann Bright, a 39-year-old resident of Washington, Utah, has been sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution. This sentence follows her guilty plea to charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds on October 29, 2024. The judgment was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow.
Court documents reveal that from December 2013 to April 2022, Bright unlawfully obtained veteran disability benefits belonging to a former partner. Initially assisting the veteran in setting up an online benefits account in the summer of 2013, she later altered the direct deposit details so that the payments were diverted into bank accounts solely owned by her. Bright also submitted false documentation to increase payment amounts and misrepresented her marital status to continue receiving these benefits. The fraudulent scheme involved interstate wire transfers from New Jersey to her account in Utah.
The deception came to light when the veteran received a letter in 2022 indicating changes had been made to his account. Unaware that he was still receiving benefits, he had assumed they were being used for educational debt repayment.
The announcement of the sentencing was made by United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Veteran Affairs' Criminal Investigations Division and the Washington City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Gough prosecuted the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.