A Brooklyn man was convicted Friday on charges relating to the improper use of a veteran’s benefits who lived on his Kerhonkson property.
The evidence at trial established that Kevin Green, 57, received approximately $71,000 in disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] as fiduciary for a disabled 73-year old Army veteran between March 2011 and May 2013. Green was required to spend that money solely for the benefit of the veteran. The veteran had lived in a cottage on Green’s property in Kerhonkson, but moved into a Vermont veterans’ home in April 2012. All of the veteran’s expenses at the veterans’ home were paid for by the VA, but Green continued to collect the veteran’s disability compensation benefits. Evidence was presented that Green spent tens of thousands of dollars on himself.
He was convicted of theft of government property and misappropriation by a fiduciary following a five-day trial. Green faces up to 10 years in prison, and up to three years of post-imprisonment supervised release, when he is sentenced by Senior United States Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Special Agent in Charge Sean Smith of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), Northeast Field Office.
This case was investigated by VA-OIG and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.
