9 Ohio veterans indicted on felony charges

DAYTON, Ohio - Nine Ohio veterans are accused of submitting false mileage information to gather thousands of dollars in reimbursements.

The Montgomery County prosecutor said Tuesday that the veterans qualified for mileage reimbursements for driving to the Dayton VA Medical Center for medical services.

Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. says the veterans took advantage of their status and submitted false mileage information resulting in a combined theft of more than $56,000.

The indictment includes charges of theft and tampering with government records. Heck said each defendant faces a potential sentence of four to four-and-a-half years.

Gavin McClaren, of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said in a written statement the money should have been used for medical care of Dayton-area veterans, particularly those returning from combat.