CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mingo County woman faces Federal charges after more than a decade of fraudulently claiming the benefits of a deceased World War II veteran in a case that goes back nearly 80 years.
According to court documents in the case of the United States of America vs Jessica Horton filed on April 4, 2023, a Grand Jury charges Theft of Government Benefits the issuance of which began in 1945.
These documents indicate that on or around May 1, 1945, an unnamed individual referred to as F.S. began receiving Department of Veterans Affairs Survivor’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. These benefits were awarded upon the death of the recipient’s spouse on or about December 28, 1944, in World War II.
These benefits were issued once monthly by mail and were subsequently deposited in Mingo County from the time of issuance until the passing of F.S. in 1999. Despite eligibility for the benefits expiring upon the passing of the intended recipient, these benefits continued to be mailed to the designated post office box.
The niece of F.S. – and the mother of the defendant, Jessica Horton – had access to the post office box to which the benefits continued to be directed. Official documents state that the name of the intended recipient F.S., was subsequently forged by the niece – referred to via documentation as H.H. – who then converted these funds for use for her own purposes despite having not been entitled to the reception of the benefits.
This fraudulent misuse of veteran funds continued until February 14, 2011, at which time H.H. – the niece of the original and intended benefits recipient, F.S. – passed away. Upon this development Jessica Horton – the daughter of H.H. who had previously been staking fraudulent claim to the benefits – took over fees associated with the post office box to which the benefits continued to be directed.
Jessica Horton then began forging the name of intended recipient F.S. and receiving the benefits for her own use. Funds from the benefits were subsequently deposited into various accounts at the First National Bank in Williamson, WV where Horton was an account owner or signatory.
Upon being deposited, the funds from the benefits to which Horton was not entitled were converted to monies for Horton’s own use. This conduct was reportedly repeated once a month from at least February 2011 to in and around January 2023.
Following investigation conducted into the death of intended recipient F.S., the Department of Veterans Affairs terminated the benefits. This occurred on or about January 12, 2023.
Court documentation asserts that Horton was aware that she was not entitled to the benefits she had been claiming, and actively engaged in the forging of the signature of intended recipient F.S. for a number of years in fraud ultimately amounting in value to approximately $182,867.58 – a figure which excludes the twelve years of fraud previously facilitated by Horton’s mother, H.H.