Air Force Veteran Sentenced on Charges Arising from False Claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, BRYAN PAUL WINQUIST, 39, of Cordova, Tennessee, was sentenced to 1 month of intermittent confinement and 9 months of house arrest as terms of a 3 year period of probation on a charge of Theft of Government Property.  WINQUEST was also ordered to pay a $3,100.00 fine and $11,669.06 in restitution to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Mr. Higdon stated, “To commit a fraud upon the VA is to steal from those who have risked their lives to protect this nation.  The limited funds available to the VA are critical to meeting the needs of those who have faithfully served our country and this office will continue to hold accountable all who obtain veterans benefits through fraud and deception. In this case, the defendant completely fabricated a battlefront incident, and injury and falsely claimed to have received a commendation as a result of that incident.  Then, adding insult to injury, he stole the benefits and services due to those who have served and been injured.  His conduct is shameful, illegal and an affront to those who have served honorably and with distinction and to those who bear the scars of defending this county.”

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) affords disability compensation to veterans for injuries and illnesses that are service-connected, that is, for conditions incurred or aggravated during military service.  To receive disability compensation, a veteran must file a truthful claim alleging specific facts justifying the service-connected nature of the claimed disability.

On or about March 22, 2014, WINQUIST, submitted a claim to the VA alleging that he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) arising from a service-connected incident.  The claim falsely alleged that on September 18, 2003, WINQUIST was on patrol in the town of Balad, Iraq, as an augmented medic/EMT for an army infantry unit.  The claim further alleged that while serving in this unit, WINQUIST was hit with shrapnel from an improvised explosive device (IED) and was shot in the left shoulder during a small arms firefight.  WINQUEST further claimed to have “neutralized the threat and continued to assist in the firefight and treat those who were injured…”  As a result of these events, WINQUIST claimed to have received the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

In fact, as WINQUIST knew at the time of his March 2014 Claim, he was not injured by an IED or shot in a small-arms firefight in Balad, Iraq.  The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) confirmed this falsehood in a number of ways.  A review of service records, and interview of a fellow service member, both showed that the claimed incident did not occur.  Although WINQUIST was deployed to Balad, Iraq for one month, he was assigned to the base as a firefighter.  A fellow fireman did not recall WINQUIST ever going off base on patrol, and also never knew of any small arms fire or injuries to WINQUIST.  Likewise, VA OIG contacted the Air Force Historical Society to query records concerning an alleged IED and firefight incident at the place and time claimed.  There was no record of the incident.  Likewise, WINQUIST was not a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Nevertheless, based upon the representations in WINQUIST’s March 2014 Claim and supporting documentation, the VA began to pay benefits to WINQUIST under the auspices that WINQUIST suffered from PTSD arising from the alleged 2003 firefight in Balad, Iraq.  WINQUIST received the VA benefits by withdrawing them from his bank account in various locations, including the Eastern District of North Carolina.  At no time during receipt of these government funds did WINQUIST acknowledge the falsehoods in his claim or seek to return the funds.

On December 13, 2017, WINQUIST admitted during an interview that he fabricated the incident.  In particular, he stated, “I was hurting for money, and I made it up.”  WINQUIST also stated that he knew it was wrong.

In February of 2019, WINQUIST was charged in a federal indictment.  WINQUIST pleaded guilty to Theft of Government Property on August 5, 2019.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General investigated this case.  Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represented the United States.