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Press Release

Veterans Support Group Director Gets 30 Months For Stealing Veteran's Identity

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Richard M. Gordon, 65, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conversion of government property.  Gordon implemented a scheme to steal from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by using another veteran’s identity to obtain unauthorized healthcare benefits and to receive a VA non-service connected disability pension.  For over seven and a half years, defendant Gordon continuously defrauded the VA, and ultimately converted more than $178,000 in government healthcare benefits and pension payments that he knew he was not entitled to receive. 

Gordon, who reported that he is the founder and director of Veterans Support Group of America, was convicted of conversion of government property after pleading guilty in July 2013.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Eduardo C. Robreno also ordered the defendant to serve 3 years of supervised release, and to pay full restitution of $178,607.20.
"Mr. Gordon went to great lengths to not only defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs, but to avoid detection," said Jeffrey G. Hughes, Special Agent in Charge of Northeast Field Office of the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  "The VA Office of Inspector General is committed to bringing Mr. Gordon and other individuals, who take valuable resources away from deserving veterans and their families, to justice. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS-ICE), and the Dutch International Police for their assistance with this investigation."
The case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Moshang III.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525

Updated December 15, 2014