Daughter of Deceased VA Beneficiary Sentenced for Theft of VA Benefits

Contact Person: Jamie L. Schoen (864) 282-2100

Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Pamela Bullington, age 28, of Cowpens, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court in Greenville, South Carolina, for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.   United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks of Charleston sentenced Bullington to probation and to pay restitution of $12,552.50. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Bullington used her mother’s ATM card to withdraw her mother’s veteran benefits after her mother died. The Office of Veterans Affairs had not been informed of the death of Bullington’s mother, and therefore continued to deposit VA benefits into the account.  Bullington admitted that she knew these funds were from the VA.  Bullington also allowed another person to use the ATM card to make withdrawals from her deceased mother’s account. 

The case was investigated by agents of the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.

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