A Maryland man has been sentenced to home confinement after being convicted of defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of more than $750,000 in disability payments. William Rich, 44, from Windsor Mill, faced charges of wire fraud and theft of government property for falsely claiming he was paralyzed.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland reported that after a four-day trial in June 2024, Rich was found guilty by a federal jury. Despite his claims of paralysis, video surveillance gathered during a VA Office of Inspector General investigation clearly showed Rich to be able to walk, lift, and perform actions contradicting his purported condition. The only time Rich appeared to utilize a wheelchair was during his visits to the VA medical facilities.
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson imposed a sentence of one year of home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release on Mr. Rich. According to court documents, Rich served in the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2007 and sustained injuries from a bombing in Iraq, which temporarily paralyzed him. Despite a medical report highlighting his recovered mobility, Rich continued to claim paralysis and secured disability benefits as a result.
The investigation revealed that Rich received over $8,000 monthly from the VA and was granted funds for “Automobile and Adaptive Equipment” and “Specially Adapted Housing,” which he used to purchase a luxury BMW sports coupe. From March 2019 to February 2021, Rich was consistently observed engaging in activities that defied his claims of being wheelchair-bound. His publicly available social media accounts provided further evidence of his deception, featuring photos and videos of him standing and weightlifting in a gym.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron thanked the officers and attorneys involved in prosecuting William Rich and highlighted efforts to fight fraud and protect the VA's disability program. The office also offers community resources on its website.
