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An Army veteran from Reno County has been indicted on federal charges of collecting $63,000 in benefits by pretending to be blind, U.S. attorney Tom Beall announced Thursday.

Billy J. Alumbaugh, 61, and his ex-wife, Debra K. Alumbaugh, both of Turon, each are charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and one count of theft of government funds, according to a news release from the U.S. attorneys office in Wichita.

An indictment unsealed Thursday accuses Alumnbaugh of fraudulently receiving a supplemental monthly pension by claiming he was legally blind and needed assistance to perform routine activities.

Alumnbaugh claimed he was unable to drive and needed assistance with reading medication labels, buying groceries and going to medical appointments, the news release said. The indictment charges him with making periodic trips to the Veterans Administration hospital in Wichita, where specialists couldnt find medical reasons for his blindness.

From 2009 to 2016, while he was receiving assistance, he maintained a Kansas drivers license that did not require corrective lenses and routinely drove his car. In October 2016, he and his ex-wife arrived at the VA hospital, with his ex-wife driving. She also drove when the appointment was over, but they stopped the car after driving a few blocks and switched seats so he could drive, the news release said.

If convicted, the conspiracy charge carries a sentence of up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The theft charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and $250,000.

The Veterans Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson will prosecute the case.

Originally posted here:
Indictment: VA sees through veteran's claim of blindness after catching him driving to the hospital - Hutchinson News

This entry was posted on March 4, 2017 at 6:43 am and is filed under Blindness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |