BALTIMORE, MD – William Rich, 41, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, has been charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $1 million in Veterans disability benefits and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits by falsely claiming he was a paraplegic. The federal criminal complaint, filed on October 12, 2021, was unsealed following Rich’s arrest.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, Inspector General Kim R. Lampkins of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the SSA Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG).
The complaint alleges that Rich misrepresented his physical condition in VA disability claims and during medical examinations, falsely claiming paralysis. As a result, he allegedly received over $800,000 in VA benefits and more than $240,000 in SSA Disability Insurance payments.
Rich served in the U.S. Army from September 22, 1998, to February 27, 2007, and was injured in Iraq in 2005. Initially, he was rated 100% disabled by the VA due to the “loss of use of both lower extremities.” However, medical records indicate that his paralysis resolved shortly after his injuries. Despite this, subsequent records, influenced by incomplete information, described him as permanently paralyzed.
In 2018, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation after detecting inconsistencies in Rich’s condition. Surveillance revealed Rich performing activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and lifting weights, contrary to his claims of paralysis. The affidavit also included evidence from Rich’s social media showing him standing and exercising.
The investigation further uncovered that Rich used funds intended for adaptive equipment and housing to purchase luxury items, including a BMW sports coupe.
Rich faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and 10 years for theft of government property. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Rich had an initial court appearance on October 13, 2021, and was released pending trial.