Two Chicago V.A. Employees, Others Indicted; Fraudulently Obtaining Funds –

CHICAGO, IL. (ECWd) –

The Federal Grand Jury of the Northern District of Illinois handed down two True Bills last week.

The first True Bill of Indictment names the following as Defendants:

• Kimberly A. Dyson, United States Department of Veterans Affairs Prosthetic Clerk and Purchasing Agent
• Irvin R. Lucas, IV, owner of medical supply company headquartered in Romeoville, IL

According to the indictment, Dyson and Lucas did knowingly conspire to commit an offense against the United States, that is:

• gave, offered, or promised payments to Dyson, a public official
• demand, seek, receive, accept, or agree to accept payments personally from Lucas
• Dyson accepted at least $39,850 in payments from Lucas
• Read the entire Indictment HERE

The second True Bill of Indictment names the following as Defendants:

• Andrew Lee, United States Department of Veterans Affairs Prosthetic Clerk and Purchasing Agent, and also an agent of Plum Blossom Group, Inc.
• Darren A. Smith, ran a company headquartered in Bolingbrook, IL. that distributed medical equipment for the VA, and also the president and secretary of a company headquartered in Hazel Crest, IL

According to this Indictment, Lee and Smith did knowingly:

• devise, intend to devise, and participated in a scheme to defraud and to obtain money and property from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• caused fraudulent overpayments for equipment to Smith’s Company A in the amount of at least $1,381,285
• in exchange for concealed kickbacks, Lee placed orders with Smith’s company A that were below the micro-purchase threshold to avoid additional procurement protocols
• Smith made payments to Lee in the form of cash, direct deposits from company B, company C, and other individuals and entities, and payments from company C toward the mortgage on the Lee residence in order to conceal the kickbacks
• Smith added Le to the payroll of company C so that kickbacks would falsely appear to be for perk performed
• Lee received at least $220,000 in concealed kickbacks
• read the entire Indictment HERE

It is important to remember that all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.