Pain Relief Device Stolen From Vietnam Vet, Thief Sentenced

CLEVELAND, OH — A man will spend the next six months of his life incarcerated because he stole a pain relief device from a Vietnam veteran visiting the Cleveland VA Medical Center. The man will also have to reimburse the VA the cost of the device.

Bruce McCauley, 66, was sentenced Thursday. He previously pleaded guilty to theft of government property.

“Stealing from a combat vet is low enough, but stealing a device used to manage pain stemming from an injury received in Vietnam is just unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “We owe all our vets a debt of gratitude and will fulfill our pledge to seek justice for them at every turn.”

McCauley stole the device on Oct. 12, 2017. That day, a veteran who fought in Vietnam was visiting the VA. He brought with him a bone stimulator used to relieve pain in his back, pain that stemmed from a combat-related injury. Without the device, the veteran would suffer intense back pain, court document said.

McCauley saw the bag the veteran carried the device in and snatched the bone stimulator. The device has a replacement value of approximately $9,120, the Department of Justice said.

Investigators from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG)— Criminal Investigative Division, with help from the VA Police, looked into the theft. McCauley was arrested and later pleaded guilty to the crime.

“This case reflects the VA OIG’s commitment to vigorously pursue those individuals that steal from our nation’s heroes and the VA ” said Gregg Hirstein, special agent in charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office.

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