A New Bedford man is accused of stealing military disability benefits from a veteran with ALS, authorities say.
According to the US Attorney’s Office and WCVB, Joseph Smith, 71, is accused of stealing more than $450,000 from a Marine Corps veteran with ALS.
The suspect has been charged with theft of government benefits and conspiracy to steal government benefits and is scheduled to appear in court on June 11. He is currently in custody on unrelated charges, officials said.
Officials said Smith is accused of stealing funds by taking approximately $8,318 in monthly checks provided by the U.S. Veterans Affairs Benefits Administration in 2015 while the victim was hospitalized with ALS.
Officials said Smith was able to do so because a relative of his had been living with the victim before she was hospitalized.
According to WCVB, Smith and others received disability payments each month and deposited the money into a bank account they controlled.
Smith faces up to 10 years in prison for stealing government benefits and up to five years for the conspiracy charge.
“The theft of disability benefits from a 20-year veteran facing a life-threatening illness, as alleged here, is outrageous. The immorality uncovered by our criminal justice system is, at times, simply staggering,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
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