Bossier City woman pleads guilty to stealing more than $90,000 in VA benefits

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Bossier City woman pleaded guilty to taking more than $90,000 paid to her deceased mother.

Gloria Lynn Perry, 65, of Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of theft of government property.  According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Perry stole $90,006 of her mother’s Veteran’s Affairs Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits from April 1, 2008 until July 1, 2014. Her mother died in 2008. In addition, Perry filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2014, but she did not report the existence of the bank account where her mother’s benefits were deposited nor the income she received as a result.

Perry faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution. A sentencing date of November 12, 2015 was set.

The Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan is prosecuting the case.