In a recent crackdown on corruption within the Veterans Affairs system, two Jonesborough women and a Bristol, Virginia, man were meted out sentences for their roles in a bribery scheme that swindled taxpayer money earmarked for veterans. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Monika D. Schorer and Teresa D. Schorer, 59, have been sentenced to eight months and fined $10,000 each.
The sentencing, presided over by United States District Judge Clifton L. Corker, also includes a three-year term of supervised release post-incarceration. As twins and former employees at the VA Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tennessee, the Schorers took cash bribes that led to the Veterans Affairs being overbilled for medical items, some deemed unnecessary. The Schorers entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, violating multiple sections of Title 18 of the United States Code.
The intricate scheme involved cash-stuffed envelopes and promises of future stakes in a medical supply company, Four Corners. The participation of Eric S. Smith and Landon Chester, both surgical sales representatives, was previously addressed, with Smith being sentenced to a year and a day in prison, and Chester is awaiting his sentencing on August 5. Smith has already paid a restitution of $120,433.45, whereas the Schorers have been ordered to pay $213,154.50 each to the VA.
"Our nation has a solemn obligation to care for our veterans," U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III was quoted in the press release, per the U.S. Attorney's Office. "This prosecution shows that our office and our federal partners will hold those accountable who steal taxpayer money that has been allocated to fulfill this sacred duty." Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer underlined the gravity of using government positions to profit through bribery and the subsequent erosion of public trust that follows such crimes.
The charges stem from a comprehensive investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (OIG), the General Services Administration (GSA) OIG, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac D. Heavener, III, led the prosecution for the Eastern District of Tennessee. With combined restitution from the defendants and forfeited funds, the United States will recuperate $852,598, signaling a robust effort to deter and address fraud against taxpayer resources intended for veteran care.
