Vincent DeBlasi, 72, of Fenton pleaded guilty June 1 to federal charges for submitting $644,380 in fraudulent invoices to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Jefferson Barracks, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
DeBlasi was a salesman for Applied Maintenance Supplies and Solutions, selling tools and various commercial and industrial products, and one of his accounts was the Jefferson Barracks medical facility. Between 2012 and 2017, he submitted multiple false invoices to the VA medical center, the report said.
DeBlasi’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 14 in front of U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig. He faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, as well as a fine up to $250,000, or both. He also will also have to repay the VA medical center, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Assistant U.S. attorney Tom Albus is handling the case. It was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General.
“We aggressively investigate cases of individuals or companies who defraud the VA by taking money from the programs and operations meant for our nation’s veterans,” said Gregg Hirstein, special agent in charge for the VA Office of Inspector General. “We hope this case prompts others aware of fraud against the VA to contact the VA OIG Hotline.”