Mississippi Man and Woman Charged in Federal Court in Louisiana in Connection with Defrauding the VA Out of Over $2 Million

A Mississippi man and woman have been charged in a federal court in Louisiana in connection with defrauding the VA out of over two million dollars.

Louisiana - On Thursday, February 16, 2023, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Duane A. Evans announced that James “Jay” Sinyard and Mary “Gigi” Sinyard (“the Sinyards”), residents of Brandon, Mississippi, were charged on February 14, 2023, with one count of wire fraud.

According to the charging papers, the Sinyards maintained a business called VetAttend of Jackson that claimed to give home aid and assistance to veterans. The Sinyards filed and caused to be submitted, fraudulent affidavits for home aid services delivered when they knew they were not provided. The affidavits were presented to the VA through the Eastern District of Louisiana. From approximately August 2014 to approximately December 2020, the VA issued funds to over 70 veterans and/or their surviving spouses as a result of fictitious affidavits, from which VetAttend of Jackson appropriated approximately $2,136,329.68 in funds relating to false affidavits of services provided.

If convicted, the Sinyards may face up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment fee per count.

U.S. Attorney Evans stated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is investigating the matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn McHugh is in charge of the prosecution.