Tampa, FL - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Elliot Kahana (68, Clearwater) has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Kahana’s mother, Anne Kahana, was a recipient of Veterans Administration (VA) benefits. She died on April 28, 2009, and all rights to benefits ceased upon her death. The VA did not receive notice of her death and, until January 2011, monthly benefit payments of $1,400 continued to be directly deposited into a bank account that she had shared with her son. The total amount paid out after the death was approximately $29,400.
This case was investigated by the Veterans Administration, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Kaiser.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
