FRANKFORT, KY (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) – A Shelbyville man, Jeremy Wayne Harrell, 43, was sentenced on Monday to 6 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for theft of government benefits.
According to evidence at his trial, Harrell intentionally stole money from the United States, namely U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Individual Unemployability (IU) disability payments that he was not entitled to receive.
Specifically, the evidence presented at trial indicated that Harrell was initially awarded IU benefits in 2011. In 2019, Harrell then founded Veterans Club, Inc., and he served as the Founder and CEO of the organization. The evidence showed that Harrell had a high level of work activity for Veterans Club, from 2019 through 2023. This included working 40-60 hours per week, actively running the organization, organizing events, managing over $400,000 in assets and approximately 6,000 volunteers, engaging in news media interviews, appearing on podcasts, appearing and speaking at community events, meeting with business and political leaders, teaching classes, accepting donations, among other work. This evidence confirmed that Harrell, as the active and successful Founder and CEO of Veterans Club, could maintain substantial gainful employment, rendering him ineligible to receive the IU benefits that he received from 2019 through 2023. Additionally, the evidence showed that Harrell made numerous false statements to the government about his daily life and work activities, depicting himself as withdrawn, without the ability to perform work, leading a highly restricted life, and rarely leaving his home; when in truth, he was an active and successful CEO of a vibrant organization. The evidence confirmed Harrell made these false representations to the government to depict himself as unemployable, conceal his active role as CEO of an organization, and attempt to continue to receive IU benefits. In total, Harrell wrongfully received more than $128,000 in IU benefits.
Upon his release from prison, Harrell will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for one year, six months of which will be spent on home detention.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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