Alabama Man Sentenced to 16 Months for Veterans Affairs Theft

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that DANIEL VANSLYKE, age 34, of Slocomb, Alabama, was sentenced to 16 months of imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo in the Eastern District of Louisiana. VANSLYKE had previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds.

According to the factual basis and charging document, VANSLYKE previously resided in Franklinton, Louisiana with his father, a legitimate U.S. veteran. After his father died, VANSLYKE failed to advise the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) of his passing and in fact gave information to the VA to indicate that his father was still alive and entitled to benefits. Thereafter, VANSLYKE knowingly stole benefits from the VA that did not belong to him.

In addition to incarceration, VANSLYKE was ordered to pay restitution to the government in the amount of $46,051.92 and $100 mandatory special assessment. He was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release following incarceration.  

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General for their investigation of the matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera was in charge of the prosecution.