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Press Release

Man Who Pretended To Be Blind Sentenced To Year In Prison After Collecting Nearly $1.3 Million In Veterans Affairs Disability

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado
Scam lasted at least 35 years

DENVER -- Mike Rodolfo Blea, of Northglenn, Colorado, was sentenced Wednesday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Daniel to serve twelve months in prison, followed by three years on supervised release for defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of nearly $1.3 million by pretending to be blind. Blea must also pay $1,273,180.44 in restitution to the agency.  The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  Blea appeared at the hearing free on bond.  He was ordered by Judge Daniel to report to a Bureau of Prison Facility once designated. 

According to the stipulated facts in the plea agreement, Blea was a Vietnam Veteran who began receiving VA disability payments in 1969 for a visual impairment. He did in fact have a minor visual impairment due to macular holes in his retinas, however at least by 1983 he began exaggerating how bad his eyesight was, with the result being that the VA was paying him 100% disabled rate when in fact his true rating was probably 10%. While the VA thought Blea was blind, he was deliberately getting eye exams outside the VA system that showed his vision was correctible to 20/30 in one eye and 20/40 in another. In fact, Blea had a driver’s license and drove regularly without any noticeable difficulties.

“Justice may be blind, but Mr. Blea isn’t,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “He will now have a year in federal prison to think about his actions and see a better way going forward.”

Gregg Hirstein, Special Agent in Charge, VA Office of the Inspector General, said, “The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is committed to bringing justice to those who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of VA programs intended to help our nation’s disabled veterans. This case should serve as a deterrent to those who would seek to defraud the VA.”

Blea was charged by information on August 8, 2018, and pleaded guilty to a single count of concealment of a material fact on December 19, 2018. He was sentenced Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

This case was investigated by the VA’s Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Burrows.

Contact

Jeff Dorschner
Spokesman, Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado
303-454-0243 direct; 303-454-0400 fax

Updated April 12, 2019

Press Release Number: CASE NUMBER: 18-cr-00372