Paul John Herbert, of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements. Beginning in 2010, Herbert filed false claims to the VA for disability benefits, stating an improvised explosive device injured him. In 2018, he submitted a false Purple Heart application to the Marine Corps through his local congressman. He obtained more than $344,000 in benefits over 13 years. “Today’s guilty plea holds this defendant accountable for falsifying his service record to steal funds intended for our nation’s deserving veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the VA OIG’s Northeast Field Office. “The VA Office of Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate those who would represent themselves as something they are not in order to exploit VA programs and services.” The VA OIG and the Department of Defense OIG Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated this case.
