The Department of Justice announced guilty pleas by seven defendants in three separate cases in schemes to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits program, including the largest known Post-9/11 GI Bill fraud case ever brought by the department.
“The Post-9/11 GI Bill was enacted to aid our military veterans and their families on behalf of a nation grateful for their service,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Criminal Division. “These frauds drain funds from a vital veterans’ program and undermine public faith in the administration of government. These cases demonstrate the Criminal Division’s clear commitment to protecting the integrity of federal programs and to holding offenders who would abuse and exploit these programs accountable.”
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a VA benefit program that pays tuition, housing, and other costs for eligible veterans seeking post-secondary education and training. Employees of VA-approved education institutions, known as School Certifying Officials (SCOs), are responsible for ensuring the participating educational institution maintains and supplies the VA with true and accurate enrollment, attendance, and course completion records for enrolled veterans; promptly notifies the VA of changes to veteran enrollment status; and maintains compliance with the “85-15 rule,” which stipulates educational institutions (1) charge the same tuition rate to veteran and non-veteran...
Shahid Kapoor's mom and Bollywood actress Neelima Azeem has always been vocal about her personal life and has never shied away from speaking her mind. In a recent interview, Neelima also spoke abo...