A Fort Myers resident, Laurie Ann Roszelle, has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber also ordered the forfeiture of $338,364.66, the amount gained from the fraudulent activities. Roszelle entered a guilty plea on December 5, 2024.
Court documents reveal that Roszelle began receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) survivor's benefits after her mother's death in 2005 by forging her mother's signature on several documents sent to the VA. This continued until 2024 when the VA stopped payments upon discovering her mother's passing. Roszelle then attempted to deceive the VA by claiming her mother was still alive and even impersonated her mother's voice during phone calls. When visited by agents from the VA Office of Inspector General, she falsely stated that her mother was living with her and provided fabricated details about her mother's health.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.