A Windsor Mill man has been found guilty of scamming the government out of over $750,000 in veteran disability benefits. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, after a four-day trial, the jury convicted William Rich, age 43, on charges of wire fraud and theft of government property. Rich falsely claimed to be paralyzed, a condition which allowed him to unduly collect benefits meant for veterans with severe disabilities.
Detailed video surveillance over two years contradicted Rich's claims, showing him to freely walk, climb stairs, and perform activities without any assistance. This evidence was critical to demonstrate Rich's deception and conclusively prove that he had misrepresented his physical abilities to fraudulently obtain benefits. Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the conviction alongside Kim R. Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge of the VA's Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
Rich's military service was from September 1998 to February 2007, suffering injuries in Iraq that temporarily left him paralyzed. However, evidence at the trial showed he made a significant recovery shortly after the incident. Investigators from the VA Office of Inspector General began to critically look into Rich's situation in 2018 after suspecting inconsistencies with his reported condition. Their findings revealed that while Rich had reported being wheelchair-bound, social media posts and surveillance footage depicted a different reality, including images of him standing in a gym and videos where he was seen lifting weights.
Rich now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 10 years for theft of government property. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account various guidelines and statutory factors. Despite facing such a grave potential penalty, it is noted that actual sentences for federal crimes are often less severe than the maximum. The date for sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The prosecution was commended by U.S. Attorney Barron, who thanked both Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen McGuinn for their work on the case.
The case also highlights the vigilance of institutions such as the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General whose investigations are vital in uncovering fraudulent activities that rob legitimate beneficiaries of their due resources. The U.S. Attorney's Office encourages public awareness of its initiatives and community resources which are detailed on its website.
