Helena man sentenced for defrauding Department of Veterans Affairs of healthcare benefits

HELENA — A Helena man who admitted to falsely claiming to have served in the U.S. Navy so he could receive healthcare benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was sentenced today to three years of probation, with 180 days of home confinement, and ordered to pay $46,075 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Patrick John McKenna, 66, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to healthcare fraud.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in August 2021, McKenna applied for healthcare benefits with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Health Administration and indicated on his application that he had served with the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1984. Based on his representation of military service, McKenna was approved for healthcare benefits and received VA-funded counseling services. McKenna then applied for additional benefits with the VA Veterans Benefits Administration based on claimed service-related disabilities. VBA representatives searched multiple record systems and were unable to find any record of McKenna’s service.

In an interview with agents from the VA Office of Inspector General, McKenna admitted that he did not serve in the U.S. Navy and that he had applied for healthcare benefits because of the high cost of private healthcare. Agents determined that McKenna’s scheme resulted in a loss of $39,200 to the VHA and $6,975 to the Helena Veteran Center, for a total loss of $46,075.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon L. Clarke and Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case. The VA Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.

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