LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal grand jury has indicted the founder and CEO of Veteran's Club, Inc. for allegedly taking more than $100,000 in unemployment benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) improperly.
Jeremy Harrell served in the United States Army for a little over a year, and spent extra time within the United States Army Reserve.
According to court documents, the VA started giving Harrell unemployment benefits in April 2011 and retroactively paid him for the last few weeks of 2010.
To be eligible for the benefits, a veteran must "be unable to maintain substantial gainful employment because of his service-connected disabilities" according to the documents; additionally, any veterans who chose not to work or chose to work but not get paid would not be eligible for the benefits.
Around Feb. 6, 2019, the VA wrote letters to everyone receiving the benefits, saying they must "'notify [the] VA immediately if there is a change in any condition affecting' their right to continued [Individual Unemployability] benefits" the documents show.
Harrell founded the nonprofit in January 2019, and according to the documents, has worked at times more than 40 hours a week doing various tasks for Veteran's Club, Inc.
Investigators said Harrell's volunteer work with the organization shows he was capable of maintaining employment, therefore making him ineligible to receive benefits. He is also accused of lying to the VA about the extent his work activity.
WHAS11 News has reached out to Harrell and he said he can't comment on this time.
Harrell's first court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 1.
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