Citrus County, FL man pleads guilty to receiving stolen benefit payments from VA
Ocala, Florida – On November 29, 2023, United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that 55 year-old Robert Howard Lawrence, II, of Citrus County, Florida, has pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government property (surviving spouse benefit payments he was not entitled to). Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, and a forfeiture of at least $364,497.80. His sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Lawrence was indicted on the charge April 25, 2023.
According to court records, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program furnishes a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of deceased military service members. However, if the surviving spouse remarries, he or she is no longer eligible to receive DIC benefits and must report the new marriage to the VA.
Lawrence was a surviving spouse of a military service member who died in 1994. Beginning on or about November 1, 1995, through approximately April 1, 2023 (approximately 329 months, or 27 years and 5 months), Lawrence received DIC benefits from the VA that he was not entitled to - because he had remarried twice - once in 1995, and again in 2023. During that time, Lawrence had repeatedly assured the VA that he had not remarried so that he could continue to illegally receive the benefit payments. By failing to report his subsequent marriages, Lawrence illegally received a total of $364,497.80 (approximately $1,107.89 per month) in stolen benefit payments.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.