United States of America v. Robert Howard Lawrence. II

Ocala, Florida criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with receiving stolen government property.



The Veterans Affairs ("VA”) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation ("DIC”) program furnishes a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of deceased military service members. If the surviving spouse remarries, however, they are no longer eligible to receive DIC benefits. Robert Howard Lawrence, age 55, from Citrus County, was a surviving spouse of a military service member who died in 1994. Lawrence remarried in November 1995. Beginning in November 1995, and continuing through approximately April 1, 2023, Lawrence received DIC benefits to which he was not entitled because he repeatedly told the VA that he had not remarried. In fact, Lawrence had remarried twice – once in 1995 and again in 2023. By failing to report his subsequent marriages, Lawrence illegally received a total of $364,497.80 in stolen VA DIC benefit payments.



An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.



This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.



If convicted, Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and the forfeiture of at least $364,000.



18:641.F PUBLIC MONEY, PROPERTY OR RECORDS (receipt of stolen government property)

(1)

An indictment is not proof of guilt.