HR4169-119

What This Bill Does

The Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act adds a new criminal offense to chapter 63 of title 18 for fraud involving veterans' benefits. A person who knowingly executes or attempts a scheme to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits, or to defraud in connection with obtaining those benefits for the individual, can be fined, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. The definition covers benefits provided by federal law for veterans, dependents, and survivors. The bill gives prosecutors a tailored tool for scams that target benefit payments, claims assistance, or benefit access for veterans' families.

Who Benefits and How

Veterans receiving federal benefits benefit because scams against their benefits become a specific federal crime. Veterans' dependents benefit because survivor and dependent benefits are included in the protected benefit definition. Veterans' survivors benefit from federal fraud protection when benefits are targeted after a veteran's death. Federal prosecutors benefit from a tailored charge for schemes involving veterans' benefits.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Fraud defendants targeting veterans face fines and up to five years of imprisonment. Veterans benefits scammers lose room to exploit gaps between general fraud statutes and benefits-specific conduct. Justice Department prosecutors must investigate and prove knowing benefit-fraud schemes under the new section. Federal courts must sentence and manage cases under the new veterans-benefits fraud offense.

Key Provisions

• Creates a new title 18 offense for fraud regarding veterans' benefits.
• Covers schemes to defraud veterans, dependents, or survivors of benefits provided by federal law.
• Authorizes fines, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
• Adds the new offense to the chapter 63 table of sections as section 1352.