Prison Time Given To Veteran Convicted Of False Disability Claim

TAMPA, FL — A 51-year-old Tampa man has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $429,568 in restitution for stealing funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

A federal jury found Barry Wayne Hoover guilty on Dec. 3 and U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards sentenced him Friday.

According to evidence presented at trial, Hoover, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, exaggerated the extent of his visual impairment to receive VA disability benefits to which he was not entitled.

Specifically, prosecutors said Hoover manipulated the results of subjective tests of his peripheral vision to reflect that he had a 5-degree visual field and was legally blind. Hoover also made false statements to the VA regarding his ability to drive and perform other activities.

Based upon the manipulated test results and false statements, the VA found Hoover 100 percent disabled and awarded him significant monetary benefits and other valuable services.

In contrast to Hoover’s representations to the VA, agents’ surveillance and video footage, along with social media posts, and other evidence, showed Hoover driving a car, a three-wheeled motorcycle, an ATV and a boat.

Hoover was also captured mowing his lawn, operating power tools such as a chain saw, hunting, fishing, scuba diving and performing other tasks.

Expert testimony at trial established that a person with a 5-degree visual field could not drive and would rely on a white cane to function in public.

Hoover received approximately $429,568 in VA benefits as a result of his misrepresentations.

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that veterans who defraud the VA by exaggerating their disabilities will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Southeast Field Office. “VA’s disability programs are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA is committed to investigating those who would exploit these programs.”