Trina A. Higgins, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah
Tiffany Ann Bright, a resident of Washington, Utah, has been sentenced to 36 months' probation and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution for stealing veteran disability benefits. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow following Bright's guilty plea to charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds on October 29, 2024.
Court documents reveal that from December 2013 to April 2022, Bright illegally obtained veteran disability benefits intended for a former partner. In 2013, she assisted the veteran in setting up an online account for receiving these benefits but later altered the direct deposit information so that the payments were directed into her own bank accounts. Additionally, Bright submitted false documentation to the U.S. government to increase benefit payments and misrepresented her marital status.
The fraudulent activities involved interstate wire transfers from New Jersey to Utah. In 2022, the scheme came to light when the veteran received a letter indicating changes had been made to his benefits account; he was previously unaware that payments were still being made and assumed they were used for educational debt repayment.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah announced the sentencing outcome. The investigation was conducted by both the Department of Veteran Affairs Criminal Investigations Division and the Washington City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Gough prosecuted the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
