VA Employee Guilty of Taking $24K From Veterans’ Benefits

VA Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting $24K in Illegal Gratuities From Veterans.

In a clear breach of federal ethics regulations, a Huntington man employed to assist disabled veterans with their benefits claims unlawfully accepted thousands of dollars in gratuity payments linked to those claims.

Timothy Lane Crowder, 44, admitted in court this week that while working as a Veterans Service Representative for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, he accepted over $24,500 from at least 13 veterans in exchange for help with their disability claims, something federal law strictly forbids.

From September 2020 through July 2023, Crowder worked at the VA’s Benefits Administration office in Huntington. His job? Helping veterans navigate the complex process of filing for retroactive disability benefits.

But after their claims were approved, Crowder quietly took payments ranging from 10% to 20% of their awarded money, according to prosecutors.

“It is never appropriate for a Veterans Service Representative of a federal benefits program to solicit payments from benefit recipients in exchange for assistance with their benefits. That is a betrayal of the public’s trust and undermines the integrity of these programs. Benefit recipients should always refuse to make any such payment and report any solicitation to the employee’s supervisor.” Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston said.

Under federal law, no VA employee is allowed to take gratuities or any share of a claim filed against the U.S. government. Crowder admitted he knowingly broke those rules.

Timothy Lane Crowder now faces sentencing on October 27, 2025, where he could receive up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and must pay $24,525.33 in restitution. (Source: DOJ Press Release)

Cases like Crowder’s highlight growing concerns about accountability within the VA system.

In a separate case, a veteran in Atlanta recently filed a high-profile VA malpractice lawsuit after suffering permanent harm due to alleged medical negligence