Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ronald Newnham, age 68, of Canton, with theft of government benefits.
The indictment charges that between on or about Nov. 27, 2004, and on or about July 26, 2011, Newnham wilfully and knowingly stole and converted to his own use, death pension benefits issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Newnham caused the funds to be transferred from the beneficiary’s account to his bank account for his own personal benefit.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney M. Kendra Klump, following an investigation by the Cleveland Resident Agency of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
