A Fort Myers woman was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for a $300,000 Veterans Affairs fraud scheme.
The U.S. State Attorney's Office said Laurie Ann Roszelle, 65 , was sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty on Dec. 5, 2024. As part of her sentence, Roszelle was also ordered to forfeit $338,364.66.
According to court documents, in 2005, following her mother's death, Rozelle began collecting Department of Veterans Affairs survivor's benefits which were her mother's.
Roszelle reportedly forged her mother's signature on multiple documents and sent them to the VA to ensure she would continue to receive the payments.
When the VA found out Roszelle's mother died and shut off benefits in 2024, Roszelle called the VA claiming that her mother was still alive and asking that benefits be restarted.
Court documents said Roszelle impersonated her mother's voice in another call.
When agents from the VA Office of Inspector General visited Roszelle's home, she claimed that her mom was living with her and was in good health.
Throughout the 19-year scheme, Roszelle - according to court documents - fraudulently collected $338,364.66 in stolen benefits.
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