Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Bobby Joe Haynes, age 61, of Columbia, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to Theft of Government Funds, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Haynes received medical treatment from VA Medical Center in Columbia, S.C. Veterans are reimbursed for mileage to and from their residence and the medical facility. Haynes was living in Columbia but falsely claimed to be living in Georgetown, S.C. so that he could receive higher mileage payments. Between March 2011 and October 2013 Haynes filed 140 false mileage claims resulting in losses to the Department of Veterans Affairs of $7,488.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for Theft of Government Funds is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Inspector General, and the Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
