New Bedford man charged for alleged veterans disability fund theft

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The United States’ Attorney’s Office said that a New Bedford man was charged for allegedly stealing over $450,000 in veterans disability benefits meant for a 20-year Marine veteran with ALS.

71-year-old Joseph Smith was charged with one count of theft of government benefits and one count of conspiracy to steal government benefits.

The attorney’s office said that the victim was diagnosed in August 2015 and was approved for $8,318 in monthly payments starting in September of that year.

The checks were mailed to the victim’s former residence where they apparently lived with Smith’s relative and others prior to their hospitalization.

Between 2015 and 2020 Smith and others allegedly received and deposited the checks in a fraudulent account under the victim’s name.

The money was then allegedly used for personal expenses.

The office added that charges of theft of government benefits provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.