A Norman man has been given a 10-month federal prison sentence for making false disability benefit claims, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma. The man, Gordon Bellamy Jr., 45, was also ordered to pay back nearly $27,000 to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
According to the indictment, from March 2020 until January 2024, Bellamy submitted VA applications for disability benefits that included fraudulent dependents, therefore unjustly boosting his monthly disability award and his illegal activities not only misappropriated publicly allocated funds but also disrespected the very veterans the benefits are meant to serve U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester emphasized the sanctity of these funds, stating on the U.S. Attorney's Office, “Veterans disability benefits are intended to support injured patriots who make incredible sacrifices to defend our country,” and branded Bellamy's actions as both criminal and offensive.
The charges against Bellamy included theft of public money, making a false statement, and nine counts of making a false representation of a Social Security number. Court records revealed that Bellamy pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the VA by fraudulently claiming to be the father of a child who was not really his.
District Judge Charles Goodwin handed down the sentence last Friday, and in addition to the prison term and the restitution order, Bellamy will face three years of supervised release after his incarceration — a consequence reflecting his past financial crimes and highlighting a pattern of dishonesty that included a previous computer access fraud conviction the judge pointed out the persistent nature of Bellamy’s dishonest behaviors, inferring that it was a factor in the sentencings outcome.
This case was brought to a close through the diligent efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle London.
