Providence VA Service Representative Admits to Federal Extortion, Bribery, Witness Tampering Charges

PROVIDENCE, RI – A former benefits service representative with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Providence pleaded guilty today to a six-count indictment that charges him with three counts of bribery and one count each of extortion, gratuity received by a public official, and witness tampering, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Michael Darrah, 47, of Taunton, MA., solicited and accepted bribes from veterans and the family member of a veteran to approve requested dependent care benefits and/or disability benefits. In requesting payments, Darrah claimed that some of the money he sought from his victims would be used to purchase gift cards for other purported VA employees who Darrah claimed either could or did assist him in expediting and approving benefits claims.

As reflected in the indictment:

• Darrah requested payments and accepted approximately $3,385 from a veteran to “grease the wheels” to push paperwork through and expedite a claim for disability benefits.
• Darrah corruptly sought and accepted $16,566 from a second veteran to expedite and approve a claim for  disability benefits.
• Darrah sought and accepted $2,700 from a relative of a third veteran to expedite and approve the veteran’s benefits claim and he sought and accepted a “gratuity” of approximately $5,000 from the same veteran for having successfully used his position at the VA to get other VA employees to expedite and approve the claims. The indictment reflects that Darrah requested this “gratuity” despite being advised that the veteran was facing homelessness as his house was being foreclosed.
• After becoming aware of the government’s investigation into his conduct, Darrah attempted to corruptly persuade a witness not to cooperate with the investigation and to lie about the nature of payments made to him.

Darrah is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 2025. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan and Ly T. Chin.

The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Veterans Administration Police.

###