A Cleveland man who claimed he was helping aging veterans navigate federal red tape is headed to prison after authorities say he turned their benefits into his personal cash stream.
Richard Rompala, 65, founder of Senior Veterans Administration Services (SVAS), was sentenced Tuesday to four years behind bars after prosecutors said he and his company scammed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of roughly $20 million and drained payments intended for elderly veterans. SVAS also pleaded guilty and faces a statutory maximum fine of $20,000. Prosecutors say the scheme left many veterans with reduced or delayed benefits instead of the financial lifeline they were promised.
According to a release from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, Rompala started SVAS and then used falsified documents to make veterans appear eligible for benefits they were not actually entitled to receive. The office says SVAS took a hefty cut of VA payments before passing any money on to veterans, if they received anything at all. The investigation involved the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio Department of Commerce. In the release, Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said, “Rompala’s scheme preyed on veterans who were simply seeking help.” The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office detailed the case.
Rompala was arrested in Naples, Florida, on June 13, 2025, by the Collier County Sheriff's Office after a Cuyahoga County grand jury returned an indictment, according to local reporting. As Gulf Coast News reported, the indictment named SVAS and four employees and accused them of forging documents and demanding payments from veterans.
The prosecutor's office says Rompala pleaded guilty on January 13, to multiple charges, including attempted engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated theft, money laundering and tampering with records. He received a total sentence of four years in prison. SVAS also pleaded guilty to related counts and faces a maximum possible fine of $20,000, according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.
How prosecutors say the fraud worked
Authorities say SVAS representatives approached veterans with promises of free help securing VA benefits, then turned that trust into a paperwork scam. According to investigators, staffers fabricated or altered documents to make ineligible veterans appear to qualify for VA programs. Those falsified applications allegedly triggered VA payments that were routed through other entities, with SVAS keeping most of the money before any portion was passed along to the veterans.
WOIO/Cleveland 19 reported that the arrangement left victims with delayed benefits, reduced payouts or financial chaos, even as the company marketed itself as an advocate for seniors who had worn the uniform.
Investigation and broader crackdown
Prosecutors say the case is part of Operation No VA SCAMs, a nationwide VA OIG initiative that targets predatory companies manipulating service-connected accounts and benefits claims. The probe tied to Rompala and SVAS brought together the VA OIG, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Department of Commerce and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office in a multiagency effort.
Gulf Coast News outlined how investigators followed the trail from questionable benefit applications to the Naples arrest and ultimately to Rompala’s guilty plea in Cuyahoga County.
What veterans should do
Veterans who suspect they were caught up in this scheme or another like it are urged to report it. Possible fraud involving VA benefits can be reported to the VA Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-488-8244 or through the OIG’s online complaint form. Those needing broader support can contact the Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 for case-management assistance.
The VA and the Office for Victims of Crime offer guidance on how to spot scams, document what happened and connect with help for both veterans and families. See resources from the VA and the Office for Victims of Crime for detailed next steps.
