A 70-year-old Central Florida woman stole almost $150,000 of Veterans Affairs funds.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Priscilla Sumner, of Lake Mary, has pleaded guilty to theft of government money. Sumner faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. As part of her plea, she has agreed to forfeit $149,084.45, the proceeds of her criminal conduct. Sumner is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, Sumner was the fiduciary for a disabled family member’s Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. In February 2015, Sumner failed to notify the VA of a change in the beneficiary’s living situation that would have reduced the benefits amount.
She used the excess funds, which were no longer needed to care for the disabled veteran, to pay her own personal expenses and falsified VA accounting forms to cover up her misuse of the funds.
This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Suzanne Huyler and Matthew Del Mastro.
