The U.S. Attorney’s
Office Eastern District of PA released the below information:
PHILADELPHIA – United
States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Richard Meleski, 58, of
Chalfont, PA, was arrested and charged by Indictment with healthcare fraud,
mail fraud, Stolen Valor, creating fraudulent military discharge papers, and
making false statements stemming from his scheme to defraud the Veterans’
Administration (VA) of hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits.
The Indictment alleges
that the defendant faked serving in the U.S. military, specifically the Navy
SEALs, and even falsely represented that he had been a Prisoner of War, in
order to secure healthcare benefits from the VA worth over $300,000. Due to
these false representations, Meleski received healthcare from the VA in
Priority Group 3, effectively receiving healthcare before deserving military
service members. In reality, the defendant never served a single day in the
U.S. military.
Meleski also allegedly
filed for monetary compensation from the VA for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) he claimed to have suffered as a result of an armed conflict in Beirut
in which he had supposedly rescued injured teammates. In his application for
disability benefits for PTSD, Meleski also falsely represented that he had been
awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions during his supposed time as a
Navy SEAL. He also allegedly submitted another application to the VA for
monetary compensation in which he used the obituaries of actual Navy SEALs,
claiming that he had served alongside them.
Finally, Meleski also
allegedly filed for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration
(SSA) for injuries that were supposedly aggravated by his service in the U.S.
military. He falsely testified under oath about these injuries in connection
with a SSA Disability proceeding.
“These allegations are
truly shocking and a huge insult to anybody who has worn our country’s uniform.
If proven, Meleski deserves to face the consequences under the law. My Office
will aggressively root out and prosecute this type of conduct with the
seriousness of purpose that it deserves,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.
If convicted, the
defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 68 years imprisonment, 3 years
supervised release, a $2,250,000 fine, a $900 special assessment, and
restitution of $302,121.21.
The case was
investigated by Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of the Inspector General
and Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, and is
being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran.
An indictment, information,
or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless
and until proven guilty.
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