Stealing From Vets

WASHINGTON – A federal indictment charges former Department of Veterans Affairs official Russell Ware with improperly obtaining $66,000 in VA disability benefits for himself and a friend.

Ware’s indictment comes nine months after the friend pleaded guilty. Jacqueline Crawford, 33, of Gulfport, Mississippi, is awaiting sentencing after admitting that she kicked back to Ware more than $13,000 of the VA money he obtained for her.

Ware, 39, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, faces four counts of wire fraud, plus counts of bribery and theft of government property.