John Paul Cook Wiki – John Paul Cook Biography
John Paul Cook of Alexander, in northern Buncombe County, pleaded guilty on July 19 in federal court to defrauding the US Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a press release. From 1987 to 2017, Cook received $ 978,138 in disability payments from Veterans Affairs “due to his alleged blindness, to which he was not legally entitled,” the statement said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office cited court records showing Cook’s VA monthly disability payments in 1987 were $ 1,411 per month, but with incremental increases in his disability rating, “as well as cost adjustments for Life and your Special Monthly Compensation, these payments increased steadily over the years. By 2016, the monthly payment had increased to $ 3,990. ”
John Paul Cook Age
John Paul Cook is 57 years old.
John Paul Cook ‘Blind’ archery coach pleads guilty take $1M in disability benefits
Acting United States Attorney William T. Stetzer announced that John Paul Cook, 57, of Alexander, NC appeared before United States Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf on Monday, July 19, 2021, and pleaded guilty to defrauding the Department of Human Rights Affairs. U.S. Veterans) by receiving nearly $ 1 million in veterans benefits based on fraudulent claims for service-connected disabilities.
Kim Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Field Office, Washington, DC, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General (VA-OIG), Joins Acting United States Attorney Stetzer to make today’s announcement.
According to the criminal indictment, plea papers filed, and court admissions, Cook enlisted in the United States Army (Army) in November 1985. Court documents show that six months later Cook suffered an accidental injury while on duty. After the incident, Cook complained that as a result of the accident and the injuries he sustained, a pre-existing eye condition had worsened.
In 1987, following a medical evaluation, Cook was discharged, placed on the retiree list, and began receiving disability-based compensation from VA at a rate of 60%. Over the next 30 years, Cook’s disability compensation increased, following Cook’s repeated false claims of increased visual impairment and inability to work due to “severe visual impairment.” As Cook admitted in court, in 2005, based on his severe visual impairment claims, the VA declared Cook legally blind and began receiving disability-based compensation at the maximum rate. ‘
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Cook also began receiving additional benefits, including Special Monthly Compensation (an additional monetary allowance paid to a qualified veteran due to the severity of his or her disability), Specially Adapted Housing (a grant that is used to pay for accommodations in a new home) and Special Home Adaptation (a grant to remodel an existing home).
According to court records, Cook’s VA monthly disability payments in 1987 were $ 1,411 per month. With gradual increases in his disability rating, as well as his cost of living adjustments and Special Monthly Compensation, these payments increased steadily over the years. By 2016, the monthly payment had increased to $ 3,990. In total, from 1987 to 2017, Cook received approximately $ 978,138 in disability payments from the VA due to his alleged blindness, to which he was not legally entitled.
Based on the admissions reflected in the plea documents, contrary to Cook’s claims filed with the VA for additional disability claims and his complaints of increased visual impairment, Cook repeatedly passed vision screenings to renew or obtain a licensed driving in North and South Carolina. Furthermore, during the relevant time period, court documents show that Cook purchased and registered more than 30 different motor vehicles that Cook regularly drove, including on long-distance trips and to run errands.
Court records further show that, from 2010 to 2016, during a period of time when Cook was receiving maximum VA disability benefits for his visual impairment, Cook was actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), including service as den leader and Cubmaster. Among the courses, the defendant completed with the BSA are courses that qualify him to be an archery and airgun, range officer. He was also certified for land navigation, which involves reading maps and using a compass.
The VA theft charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine. No date has been set for Cook’s sentencing. In making today’s announcement, Acting United States Attorney Stetzer thanked the VA-OIG for investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Richard Edwards of the United States Attorney’s Office in Asheville is in charge of the prosecution.