Muskogee Woman Pleads Guilty To Making False Statement

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that DENISE WOODARD, age 59, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, pled guilty to an Information charging her with MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).

The charge arose from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

The Information alleged that on or about February 1, 2012, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant did knowingly make and cause to be made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Veteran Affairs, an agency of the United States, in that on a Department of Veteran Affairs form known as "Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report" DENISE WOODARD stated she was receiving no income, when in truth and fact, as defendant well knew, she was receiving pension benefits from another source.

The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the defendant’s guilty plea, and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  Sentencing will be scheduled upon its completion.  The defendant remains on bond pending sentencing.

The statutory range of punishment is up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00 or both.

Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.