United States Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Texas
August 15, 2016
Collin County Man Sentenced for Disabled Vet Related Fraud
SHERMAN, Texas – A 45-year-old Frisco, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for disabled veteran related fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Sean Page was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 12, 2016, of theft of government property and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Page was sentenced to 69 months in federal prison on Aug. 11, 2016 by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, Page fraudulently obtained 14 federal service contracts by utilizing the stolen name and social security number of a service disabled veteran to create a fraudulent Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) for the purpose of soliciting and obtaining these service contracts. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Department of the Army funds federal contracting programs for SDVOSB. The program provides exclusive business opportunities for veterans who were and are disabled as a result of their military service and sacrifices while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The contracts were valued at $2,722,870. Of this amount, Page submitted fraudulent invoices and was paid $1,270,304. Page was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 9, 2015.
James Warner, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge, South Central Field Office stated, “We are pleased that the investigation resulted in the conviction of a person who abused federal government contracting set-asides for service-disabled veteran owned businesses. Fraudulently using another veteran’s status, in this case the Defendant’s disabled father’s veteran status, to obtain disabled veteran set-aside contracts hurts all veterans with legitimate businesses who wish to properly obtain these contracts.” General Carol Fortine Ochoa stated, “We will continue to work to uncover fraud schemes such as this on behalf of American taxpayers and legitimate veterans who own small businesses.”
“Protecting Service Disabled Veteran Small Business Programs, which are funded by American taxpayers, and intended to benefit veterans with service disabled injuries incurred as a result of their sacrifices for this country, from those who commit fraudulent acts to steal from the program is and will remain a top priority for our office,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “Those who steal and attempt to steal monies from these programs will be vigorously prosecuted.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, the General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office press release
