RI Woman to Admit to Falsifying Military Service & Fraudulently Collecting $250K in Veteran Benefits
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
A Rhode Island woman who allegedly falsely claimed to be a cancer-stricken U.S. Marine decorated with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and who allegedly used those claims to fraudulently gain hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable benefits and services reserved for injured veterans, will plead guilty to charges of fraud, aggravated identity theft, forgery, and fraudulent use of medals.
The guilty plea is part of a signed plea agreement filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence, announced United States Attorney Zachary Cunha.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
About Case
It is alleged that Sarah J. Cavanaugh, 31, of East Greenwich, who, a search of Defense Department records indicates never served in any branch of the U.S. military, used her position as a licensed social worker, employed by the Department of Veteran Affairs at the Rhode Island Veterans Affairs Medical Center, to gain access to documents, personal information, and medical records belonging to a Marine and an actual cancer-stricken Navy veteran.
She allegedly used the information to create fraudulent documents and medical records in her name, claiming that she was an honorably-discharged Marine stricken with cancer. It is further alleged that Cavanaugh used the fraudulent documents in various schemes to obtain more than $250,000 in cash, charitable donations, and services reserved for injured veterans.
It is further alleged that Cavanaugh, who portrayed herself as a wounded veteran who served overseas, fraudulently held herself out to be a recipient of a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, replicas of which she purchased and publicly displayed on a U.S. Marine uniform she wore at public events.
About Prosecution
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron and investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service; and the FBI, with the assistance of the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.
A defendant’s sentence is determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Related Articles
- Three Men Plead Guilty in Grandparent Scheme That Defrauded RI Seniors Out of $350K
- Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing $291K in Identity Theft Case - Used Money to “Fund Lavish Lifestyle”
- Owners of Anti-Police Wine Bar in Providence Who Spray Painted “ACAB” on City Hall Plead Nolo
- UPDATED: Former State Police Lieutenant Pleads to Charges Following GoLocal Investigation
- Cranston Man to Plead Guilty to Torching Police Cruiser During June 2020 Providence Riots
- RI Sports Star Ernst Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case
- RI Sports Legend Ernst to Plead Guilty in College Admissions Scandal, Faces 1 Year in Prison or More
- Former Warwick Woman Pleads to Manslaughter and Child Neglect, After 9-Year-Old Died in Care
- Prov Woman Pleads Guilty to Creating & Using Fraudulent Opioid Prescriptions
- NEW: PVDFest Shooter Pleads Guilty - Sentenced to 5 Years
