CLEVELAND -- A grand jury has returned separate indictments against 16 veterans charging each individually with stealing from the United States by filing false mileage statements for reimbursement.
The indictments allege each submitted claims for mileage costs to the Veteran Affairs Office that were greater than the actual distance traveled.
The veterans live throughout Northeast Ohio including in Cleveland, East Cleveland, Lakewood, Akron, Euclid, Warren, Sandusky, and Oakwood. One of those indicted lives in Alabama.
Veterans who are disabled following their service and who meet income requirements can be reimbursed for mileage when driving to receive medical attention.
The combined amount of alleged false claims filed by the 16 individuals collectively totaled more than $250,000 according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
WKYC-TV