Laurie Ann Roszelle, 65, from Fort Myers, has been indicted for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs of over $300,000. The fraud occurred nearly 20 years after her mother’s death. She faces one count of wire fraud, which could result in up to 20 years in federal prison.
The indictment alleges that Roszelle managed to wrongfully receive benefits intended for her deceased mother by forging her signature to respond to VA correspondence and by misrepresenting her mother's life status during phone and in-person interviews with VA officials. It is further reported that the scheme continued undisturbed from her mother’s death in 2005 until recently. According to the Department of Justice, Roszelle's deceptive tenure has led the government to also seek the forfeiture of $338,364.66, the amount tied to the fraudulent activities.
The U.S. legal system prescribes that every defendant is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court, A principle that ensures fairness, even when a person stands accused of exploiting a system designed to aid those who have served their country. Department of Justice notes, that an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation, which led to the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Winter will handle the case in court. More details have not been released, and it is unclear how Roszelle will respond to the charges.
