BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – In a recent federal indictment, Army veteran Gary Sawyers has been accused of knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).
These charges stem from allegations that Sawyers made false statements about the circumstances of his injuries, leading to his receipt of a Purple Heart award and substantial compensation and benefits from the VA.
Sawyers served in the United States Army during various periods, including from 1984 to 1984, 2002 to 2002, and 2003 to 2007.
One event in this case occurred in April 2004 while Sawyers was stationed at Forward Operating Base Rough Rider in Mandali, Iraq.
During a mission on April 19, 2004, Sawyers was injured when his service rifle unexpectedly discharged rounds, striking him in the right leg and foot as his Humvee exited the base.
He was subsequently transported to a military hospital in Germany and then to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by April 27, 2004. However, he was never able to return to his unit in Iraq due to his injuries.
According to the indictment, Sawyers misrepresented the circumstances of his injuries. After arriving at Walter Reed Medical Center, he reportedly told multiple medical service providers that he had been wounded by hostile fire, claiming he had been shot in the chest by a sniper on April 19, 2004.
On May 3, 2004, based on this account, Sawyers was awarded a Purple Heart from the command at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Furthermore, Sawyers was honorably discharged from military service on April 26, 2007.
Just prior to his discharge, on March 26, 2007, Sawyers submitted an application to the VA for compensation or pension, listing several claimed disabilities, including residual gunshot wounds to his right leg and chest, without specifying dates.
His application was approved based on his assertion that these wounds resulted from hostile actions, making him eligible for compensation.
The indictment reveals that the VA used the Purple Heart award as conclusive evidence that Sawyers had been wounded by hostile actions in combat, which subsequently led to his compensation and benefits from the VA.
Currently, Sawyers receives $4,568.57 in compensation and benefits per month from the VA through the VBA.
However, an investigation conducted on April 19, 2004, the same date as Sawyers’ injury, revealed that his service weapon had been modified to have a hair trigger and fire in a fully automatic fashion, contrary to regulations.
This modification was found to have caused the firearm to malfunction and led to Sawyers’ self-inflicted wounds.
As a result of these findings, the indictment alleges that Sawyers knowingly and willfully executed a scheme to defraud the VHA and VBA by falsely representing that he had been wounded by enemy fire when, in fact, his injuries were self-inflicted due to the negligent modification of his service firearm.
The charges against Sawyers include violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347.
Sawyer’s bond was set at $10,000 by U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia Omar J. Aboulhosn.
The case is being heard by U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia Frank W. Volk.
A trial date has not yet been set.
