A New Bedford man, identified as Joseph Smith, 71, has admitted to a significant theft—pilfering over $450,000 in disability benefits that were meant for a United States Marine Corps veteran, who was battling the incapacitating effects of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Smith pleaded guilty to charges of theft of government benefits and conspiracy to steal government benefits, as the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
Engaging in deception starting in August 2015, Smith illicitly gathered the monthly checks from the VBA that were intended for the ailing veteran, checks that had commenced following a disability benefit approval; while Smith's accomplices and he went about funnelling the funds initially into an account bearing his name, subsequently into a fraudulently established account in the veteran's name—money that was soon extracted in cash, misused to cover personal costs. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy characterized Smith's actions as "a gross betrayal" of the debt owed to U.S. veterans, particularly egregious because of the veteran's valiant service and his subsequent critical illness, terming the theft "simply immoral," he stated in the press release.
Upon Smith's admission of guilt on the courthouse stand before U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick, a sentencing date was pitched for January 15, 2025. The announcement shed light not only on Smith's wrongdoing but also on the coordinated investigative efforts that led to his apprehension, with praises heaped upon the collaborative work of the law enforcement agencies involved. "This investigation showcases the results that postal inspectors strive to achieve in collaboration with our law enforcement partners," stated Ketty Larco-Ward in the press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office. She is the Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division.
The crimes Smith is charged with carry a weighty potential sentence, including a maximum of 10 years behind bars, three years of supervised release, and fines that could ascend to $250,000, or double the amount of the pilfered funds if greater.
Editor's Note: A correction was made to clarify a reference concerning Ketty Larco-Ward's gender.
