A federal grand jury has indicted Michael Joyce, 53, and Sarah Joyce, also known as Sarah Shultis, 33, on charges of theft of government funds, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The couple previously lived in Rochester, New York, and now reside in New Jersey. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, the indictment alleges that in April 2016 Michael Joyce submitted claims for disability compensation to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), citing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a back issue. After consultations and examinations, he was awarded a 100% disability rating for PTSD, 30% for TBI symptoms, and 40% for his back condition.
In February 2018 Michael Joyce applied for permanent and total disability status with the VA. In his Statement in Support of Claim he wrote: “Every disability that I have either is the same but will not get better or has gotten worse.” He added that his PTSD had not improved and claimed increased isolation: “he is more housebound” and feels he “will die if he goes outside.” He was granted permanent and total disability status in April 2018.
The indictment further states that in November 2017 Sarah Joyce applied to be her husband’s caregiver under the VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP). The application asserted that Michael Joyce relied entirely on her for daily activities such as feeding, bathing, and dressing. She was approved as a caregiver and received an initial retroactive payment of $8,345.82 followed by monthly payments of $2,890.14. By March 2024 she had received over $250,000 through this program.
Investigators reviewed Michael Joyce’s Army personnel file and interviewed former members of his unit who reported inconsistencies with his claims; they stated he had never been deployed to a combat zone. Surveillance reportedly showed him walking unaided on several occasions as well as driving a vehicle and performing household maintenance tasks like climbing ladders and shoveling snow.
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General led by Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly along with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General under Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher F. Algieri from the Northeast Field Office.
“The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
