Kevin Paul McMains certainly appears to be the very definition of an American hero. Brave. Courageous. Eight years of service in the United States army without fear. Whose actions displayed a sense of duty to something greater than himself. At least on paper that’s what McMains appeared to be. Turns out that McMains is actually the very definition of a fraudster. A liar. Because the papers that comprised McMains application for disability filed were all lies. And for fourteen years McMains defrauded the U.S. government of more than $680,000 in benefits.
McMains served approximately eight years in the United States Army before leaving the service on April 27, 2009. That appears to be the only true fact in McMains application for disability. However, based on the rest of the paperwork that McMains filed, he immediately received a 100% disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs for post-traumatic stress disorder. So, from May 2009 to February 2023, McMains fraudulently received benefit payments and services from the VA, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Until someone figured out that McMains application was packed with lies.
An investigation revealed that McMains falsely stated he had been severely injured in an explosion while serving in Iraq, which he claimed resulted in paralysis and his confinement to a wheelchair since 2007. Because that wasn’t enough, McMains altered a VA form that was submitted to a mental health counselor which gave the impression that McMains medical condition relating to PTSD was much more severe than it was. McMains provided all the false information to the VA in documents and forms in support of his PTSD disability rating.
A thank you to our veterans. And a shoutout to those within the federal government who work to ensure that resources are provided correctly for the brave men and women who have valiantly served our country.
Sentencing in this case is set for January 17, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Former soldier who lied about paralysis faces prison for nearly $700,000 in disability fraud” published by Military Times on October 31, 2023
An Army veteran faces up to 20 years in prison after lying about having to use a wheelchair and receiving about $683,000 in disability benefits by exaggerating his post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Kevin Paul McMains, 43, of Pace, Fla., pleaded guilty Oct. 25 to theft of government money and two counts of making false statements. The former is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while each of the latter carries a maximum term of five years. He is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Pensacola on Jan. 17, 2024.
