Mass. man stole $450K in disability checks from veteran with ALS, officials say

A New Bedford man is accused of stealing the military disability benefits from a veteran with ALS, according to officials. 

According to the U.S. attorney’s office and reporting by WCVB, Joseph Smith, 71, allegedly stole more than $450,000 from a Marine veteran with ALS.

He is set to appear in court on June 11 after being charged with one count of theft of government benefits and one count of conspiracy to steal government benefits. He is currently in custody on other unrelated charges, according to officials. 

Smith allegedly stole these funds by taking the monthly checks for approximately $8,318 that were issued to the victim by the United States Veterans Benefits Administration in 2015 while the victim was hospitalized for ALS, according to officials.

Smith was able to do this because his relative lived with the victim prior to being hospitalized, according to officials. 

Smith and others received the monthly disability checks and deposited them into bank accounts that they controlled, according to WCVB.

Smith faces up to 10 years in prison for the charge of stealing someone else’s government benefits and up to five years for the conspiracy charge.

“It is beyond the pale to steal disability payments that were intended for a 20-year military veteran facing a life-threatening disease, as is alleged here. The immorality exposed by the criminal justice system is, at times, simply stunning,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

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