Former VA Employee Sentenced For Stealing Government Funds

ATLANTA - Zerry Feaster has been sentenced for stealing over $80,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where she worked as a secretary, and making false statements. 

“Rather than supporting the men and women who have served our country honorably, Ms. Feaster stole from the VA to gamble and buy herself luxury goods at Coach and Tiffany,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  

“Feaster’s betrayal of the public trust for personal gain is reprehensible” said Special Agent in Charge Monty Stokes, Office of Inspector General, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  “The VA OIG will vigorously investigate allegations of the misuse of public funds whether for the funds whenever the funds are related to VA programs and operations.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Feaster was employed as a secretary in the Police Services Division at the Atlanta VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Decatur, Ga.  From February 2010 through February 2012, Feaster stole over $80,000 from the VA by misusing her government-issued credit card.  The credit card was supposed to be used to purchase office supplies and other equipment for the Police Services Division at the Atlanta VAMC.  Feaster instead misused her government-issued credit card to purchase pre-paid gift cards, which she then used to buy personal items, such as luxury accessories and jewelry, as well as to gamble.  Feaster attempted to hide the gift cards purchases by creating and submitting fake purchase orders to the VA, falsely claiming that she was using the government credit card to buy office supplies and equipment. 

Feaster, 46, of Ellenwood, Ga., has been sentenced to one year, one month in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $88,264.47.  Feaster was convicted of these charges on June 27, 2017, after she pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft of government funds, and five counts of making false statements.

This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary L. Webb prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.