FLORIDA—A Fort Myers woman is accused of defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of over $300,000 over nearly 19 years.
On Thursday, United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Laurie Ann Roszelle, 65, with one count of wire fraud.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Ms Roszelle schemed to collect VA benefits intended for her mother, who passed away in 2005.
Roszelle is said to have falsified her mother’s signature in communications with the VA and misrepresented her mother’s status during interviews with VA officials, both over the phone and in person.
If convicted, Ms Roszelle faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also includes a forfeiture request for $338,364.66, the amount reportedly obtained through the fraudulent scheme.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
