83-Year-Old Pleads Not Guilty To Falsifying Veterans Affairs Travel Vouchers

[carlie]

" BANGOR, Maine — An 83-year-old Lincoln man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to falsifying travel vouchers submitted to Veterans Affairs.

William D. Brundage admitted that he received more than $6,700 in reimbursements for travel from Lincoln to Augusta when in fact he received a ride from a fellow veteran to the Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center, according to the complaint.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk released Brundage on $5,000 unsecured bail with conditions that he not travel outside the U.S., and he remove a firearm from his home. Brundage’s travel was restricted to Maine, New York and the states in between, so he may continue visiting his son once a month. He also was ordered to abstain from drinking alcohol.

The Korean War veteran allegedly received reimbursements illegally between Jan. 20, 2011, and Feb. 15, 2013. He received $6,754, and the person who drove him to the facility received $5,915 during the same time period, the complaint said.

The Bangor Daily News is not naming the person who drove Brundage to Augusta because he has not been charged with a crime.

Brundage has a permit that only allows him to drive a vehicle if a licensed driver is in the car with him, according to the complaint.

Matthew Erickson, the Brewer attorney appointed to represent Brundage, said after the arraignment that his client “does not want to get benefits he is not entitled to receive. I think there’s more to the story.”

Full article : http://bangordailynews.com/2013/08/28/news/penobscot/83-year-old-pleads-not-guilty-to-falsifying-va-travel-vouchers/

[Philip Rogers]

The key is carpooling, which they now don't allow. Personally I think it's BS but it is what it is. I'd bet VA employees carpool all the time and each gets paid mileage but of course they're going after the vets instead. jmo

pr

[JT24usn]

Actually there aren't enough parking spaces at our RO. We do carpool to get one of 37 parking spaces for almost two hundred employees. Others pay for parking year round on average 10 dollars a day until they come up in a rotation to get into a parking place for a year.

[JR Reihs]

This is BS.......I really do not know the rules on travel, I think I got a buck twenty five one time, but what struck the nerve was the gun removal. While I understand this might fall under a "Felony" charge I think this should not be an issue until such charge is actualy awarded under a conviction.

I also think there is more to this than reported.

[71M10]

Long and the Short of it.

If you are riding with someone else in their car you souldn't be filling out a travel claim. There could be exceptions, but if you arn't willing to describe the entire arrangement to the clerk at the window or an investigator (if when they come calling) then you shouldn't be suprised when your charged. As for the gun removal, I don't find that such an oudious requirement for bail.