MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A woman was indicted Tuesday for fraudulently collecting spousal death benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hendricks native Dorothy Lawson, 66, was married to a veteran who died in 1991. Lawson allegedly continued to collect spousal benefits from the department until 2013, despite having remarried in 1995. Lawson is also accused of having falsely reported on at least two government forms that she had never remarried.
Lawson is charged with two counts of false statement in document, and one count of theft and coversion of government monies. She faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000 between the three counts.