Chicago VA Fraud Since 2012 Results in Purchasing Employee’s Arrest

From:

Federal Indictment Charges Department of Veterans Affairs Procurement Supervisor with Pocketing Kickbacks

CHICAGO — A procurement supervisor at the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago pocketed kickbacks from the president of a medical supply company to steer the company at least $1.7 million in product orders, many of which were never fulfilled, according to an indictment returned in federal court in Chicago.

The indictment accuses THOMAS E. DUNCAN, a supervisor in the medical center’s Central Supply department, of receiving approximately $36,250 in kickbacks paid by checks, as well as an additional amount in cash, from DANIEL DINGLE, the president of a medical supply company based in south suburban Dolton. 

Th Chicago Tribune covered the story Februart 7, 2021.

The checks were made payable to Helping Hands Properties LLC – a third-party entity managed by Duncan – and contained false and misleading memo entries in order to conceal and disguise the existence and purpose of the kickbacks, the indictment states. 

In exchange for the kickbacks, Duncan used his official position at the VA to fraudulently initiate and approve purchases of products from Dingle’s company, knowing that many of the products would not be delivered to the VA, the indictment states.

The alleged fraud scheme began in 2012 and continued until 2019. 

In late 2018 and early 2019, while the Veterans Affairs Inspector General’s Office was investigating the matter, Duncan told Dingle to falsely tell investigators that the payments Duncan received from Dingle’s company were for work performed by Helping Hands Properties, the indictment states.

The indictment was returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. 

It charges Duncan, 37, of Chicago, with

  • five counts of wire frau
  • one count of witness tampering
  • one count of falsifying records
  • four counts of wire fraud.  

Dingle is 50, of Riverdale.

Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Gregg Hirstein, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Manschreck.

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“These charges demonstrate the VA OIG’s commitment to protecting American taxpayers,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Hirstein.  “Individuals and companies involved in corrupting the VA’s business practices will be held accountable.”

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Each count in the indictment is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.  

If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

txhe U.S, Attorney’s Office


Comments

Chicago VA Fraud Since 2012 Results in Purchasing Employee’s Arrest — 6 Comments

  1. dude gives up a fat benefits laden pension, and a damn near no way to get fired job, for 36 grand?

    Do the math Duncan, now you’re totally hosed bro.

    Unless the victimless crime nonsense stuff is now in play at the Federal level, you might just have a shot at probation and getting your job back.

  2. The race(s) of the culprits are cleverly hidden.

    It’s a chicken feed case anyway.

    What about the big crooks like Zuckerberg?

  3. Small fry, Prince, to be sure, but multiply it by hundreds of thousands!

  4. He/they were Black.

    $36K over a period of 7 years????

    REALLY But dude got $1.7 mil????

    Something’s wrong with this partnership

    ictimless, no, he worked for the VA, purchasing orders FOR VETERANS!!!!!

    Oh he’s not getting his job back that’s for DAMN sure.

  5. Where do they hire this unethical garbage from? where?

    the swamp pool of this chithole?

    unbelievable..

    the thievery just does not end…

    well here ya go for the Honest Folk go apply for this job and the first thing out of your mouth should be i’m not a Thief so you can hire me…

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