Navy Vet Sentenced For Theft Of Veteran Health Administration Benefits

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Arthur McCants, III, 68 year old resident of Eight Mile, Alabama, was sentenced today before the Honorable District Court Judge William E. Steele.

McCants, who served in the U.S. Navy as a communications officer from 1972-1977, was convicted of theft of government funds.  McCants defrauded the government for a period of four years, specifically from January 3, 2011 to January 9, 2015, during which he used a fictitious address in order to claim additional mileage on his travel voucher claim forms.  As a veteran, McCants is entitled to travel benefits during his visits to the Veterans Administration.  However, he received an additional $43,580.34 for filing 924 “padded” travel voucher claim forms over the course of his four year scheme.  According to McCants, he knew what he was doing was wrong, but he felt that the U.S. Government had wronged him also.  McCants was sentenced to time served; thereby, making his time in custody approximately four months.  He will also serve a three year term of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to make full restitution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Special Agents of the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Suntrease Williams-Maynard and George May.