A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico has indicted ten individuals for defrauding the United States to obtain Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits. The investigation was led by the United States Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court documents reveal that between 2020 and 2025, Ángel Carrer-Rivera, a VA employee, used his access to assign claims to employees he supervised. He worked with Richard Rivera-Maitin to fabricate medical conditions for veterans to fraudulently receive benefits.
The indictment charges include conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud. W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, stated that "the defendants created and executed a scheme to defraud the United States Veteran’s Benefits Administration." He commended law enforcement partners for their efforts in uncovering this conspiracy.
David Spilker from the VA Office of Inspector General emphasized that this case is part of a nationwide initiative against fraudulent claims targeting veterans' benefits. Devin J. Kowalski from the FBI's San Juan Field Office described it as a "disgraceful scheme" and highlighted ongoing efforts to combat such fraud.
The indictment lists various individuals involved in submitting false claims, including veterans who obtained fraudulent disability ratings ranging from 60% to 100%. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison for conspiracy and up to 20 years for mail and wire fraud charges.
The investigation continues under the supervision of several federal agencies alongside local law enforcement bodies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Anderson is prosecuting the case. It is noted that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
