Richard Rompala, of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the founder of the charitable organization Senior Veterans Administration Services (SVAS) was sentenced to four years in prison for exploiting elderly veterans and scamming VA out of approximately $20 million in fraudulent benefits. Additionally, SVAS must pay a maximum fine of $20,000. SVAS contacted veterans informing them that they were eligible for benefits, but they were not. SVAS would falsify documentation to make the veterans eligible and send the falsified documents to VA, which would then provide SVAS with financial benefits. SVAS, through a separate entity, would either demand direct payment or a large percentage of the benefits before releasing the remainder to the veterans. The VA OIG, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and Ohio Department of Commerce investigated this case.
