ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A federal grand jury has indicted a New Jersey couple formerly from Rochester, accusing them of defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs out of more than $250,000 through false disability and caregiver claims, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Thursday.
Michael Joyce, 53, and Sarah Joyce, 33, also known as Sarah Shultis, were charged with theft of government funds, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the indictment, Michael Joyce began filing for disability compensation with the VA in April 2016, claiming to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a back condition. Following evaluations, he was granted a 100% disability rating for PTSD, and additional ratings for TBI and his back, totaling full disability compensation…