Published Jul 10, 2026, 11:26 AM EDT

The West Virginia woman's charges stemmed from stealing benefits meant for a family member.

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Published Jul 10, 2026, 11:26 AM EDT

A woman has pleaded guilty to stealing $160,000 worth of veterans' and social security benefits that were meant for a family member. Barbara Ferrell, a 63-year-old woman from Seth, W. Va., pleaded guilty this week to theft of government money, admitting she stole some $160,394.02 while serving as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appointed fiduciary and Social Security Administration (SSA) representative for a family member. Ferrell acted in these roles from August 2021 to November 2024. The theft took place from April 13, 2022, to February 29, 2024, Ferrell admitted. She said that the VA benefits she stole, by periodically withdrawing money from a joint checking account, totaled around $114,660.82 while the SSA benefits amounted to $45,733.20. “Stealing from veterans is a particularly disgraceful form of greed,” U.S. Attorney Moore Capito said in a statement. “These are men and women who put on our nation’s uniform and sacrificed in service to this country—and the idea that someone would deliberately prey on them for personal profit is disgusting. Our veterans deserve our gratitude and protection, not to be treated as targets." Capito commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is prosecuting the case. "Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that the VA OIG will vigorously investigate those who steal from vulnerable veterans who are unable to manage their financial affairs,” said Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “The VA OIG appreciates the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts to stop fraud within VA’s Fiduciary Program.” Ferrell is scheduled for sentencing on November 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the DOJ.