CONCORD, N.H. - Misty Maciejewski, 35, of Northfield, has pleaded guilty in United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to health care fraud, that involved the theft of more than $29,000 from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Health Administration, announced Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith.
The Veterans Health Administration pays for more than 8.7 million honorably discharged to receive medical treatment and other benefits for their service related injuries and illnesses at VA and non-VA medical facilities. To obtain these benefits, a veteran submits an application to the VHA. In this document, the veteran is required to state the dates of her military service and combat duty, and a description of her service related illness or injury.
In an application for health benefits Maciejewski submitted to the VHA on Oct. 3, 2012, she falsely claimed to be a veteran of the U.S. Army and that she was honorably discharged after serving in combat. The application was mistakenly approved by the VHA due to an administrative error.
While living in Massachusetts after the application was approved, Maciejewski fraudulently received VHA benefits totaling $8,154.58 which were paid to a half-way house in Boston and applied to medical services she received from the VA hospital in Boston.
After Maciejewski moved to Northfield in July 2013, she fraudulently received VHA benefits totaling $21,287.55 which were paid to non-VA medical services providers and applied to medical services she received from the VA hospital in Manchester.
“Veteran benefits programs exist to provide services needed by those who have put on the uniform in defense of our country," Acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith stated.“Our office will continue to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to defraud these programs and thus deprive true veterans of the funds they need."
Maciejewski is schedule to be sentenced on Sept. 28, 2015. She is facing up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Kinsella.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
