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Via the VA. Along with Stolen Valor violators, there’s a special place for those who defraud the elderly and infirm. Gun Bunny sends.<\/p>\n
by: Kaylynn Stephens<\/strong><\/p>\n NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) \u2013 On Friday, the Department of Justice said a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Portsmouth woman with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud veterans.<\/p>\n 59-year-old Rita Copeland allegedly operated an organization known as, \u201cVeteran Services of the Commonwealth,\u201d the Department of Justice said.<\/p>\n According to the indictment, Copeland purported to provide caregiving, contracting, and rental assistance services to various veterans from 2016 through 2019.<\/p>\n Documents said Copeland allegedly caused a number of victims to apply for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grants through the Department of Veterans Affairs.<\/p>\n Copeland is charged with eight counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.<\/p>\n The grant payments are to be used for certain designated improvements to the residences of veterans.<\/p>\n Copeland allegedly failed to perform all of the promised work and used a portion of these payments to her own benefit, contrary to the designated purposes of the funds.<\/p>\n In addition, the DOJ said Copeland also allegedly diverted the income and retirement fund payments of another veteran to a bank account that she had opened.<\/p>\n Copeland allegedly fraudulently obtained and diverted loan funds and used the credit and debit cards of this elderly victim.<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, Copeland also allegedly engaged in a rental fraud scheme, purporting to link veterans with landlords, but then diverting rental and security deposit payments to her own benefit, the DOJ said in a press release.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n