Source: Office of United States Attorneys
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Bridgeport, West Virginia woman is accused of falsifying medical records to unlawfully receive Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits and the fraudulent discharge of her federal student loans.
Christina Nolte, 42, was indicted on one count of theft of public money, property, or records; three counts of making false statements; and one count of student loan fraud. According to the indictment, Nolte falsified medical records to receive disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to which she was not entitled. Nolte is also accused of using her fraudulent VA disability rating to unlawfully obtain a discharge of her federal student loan debt in the amount of $242,528.
The indictment seeks forfeiture and a money judgement in amount of $360,466.38.
Nolte faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the theft count, up to 5 years for each of the false statement counts, and up to 5 years in federal prison for the student loan fraud count.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer T. Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government, and the matter was investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the Department of Education Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.