Fake PTSD, a Purple Heart That Never Existed, 14 Years of Checks: 33 Months

McMains claimed PTSD left him unable to work or care for himself, and backed it with a Purple Heart he was never awarded. Nearly 14 years and over $779,000 across VA, Social Security and Medicare. 33 months.

For nearly 14 years, Kevin Paul McMains received over $779,000 in government disability benefits by providing false information to the VA.

He submitted fraudulent documentation and made false statements claiming post-traumatic stress disorder left him unable to work, perform normal daily activities, or care for himself, knowing that was not true. He also falsely claimed he had been awarded a Purple Heart as proof of his service-connected injuries.

The fraud also qualified him for Social Security disability benefits and Medicare coverage he was not entitled to. He pleaded guilty to theft of government money and two counts of making false statements to a federal agency. The case was a joint VA OIG, SSA OIG, and HHS OIG investigation.

"This sentence sends a clear message that veterans who defraud VA by exaggerating their disabilities will be held accountable"
— U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida

Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida. Case file in the VA Fraud case files — part of the VA Fraud record. Cases are published as the courts decided them; amounts are stated as the Justice Department states them (billed, stolen, or ordered in restitution, as labeled).