FORT MYERS, Fla. – Laurie Ann Roszelle, 65, of Fort Myers, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud. As part of her sentence, the court also ordered the forfeiture of $338,364.66, the proceeds of the fraud. Roszelle pleaded guilty to the charge on December 5, 2024.
According to court documents, Roszelle began a 19-year scheme in 2005, following her mother’s death. She forged her mother’s signature on various documents and submitted them to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue receiving survivor’s benefit payments intended for her mother.
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When the VA discovered the fraud in 2024, Roszelle falsely claimed that her mother was still alive and pressured the VA to reinstate the benefits. She even impersonated her mother’s voice during a phone call to the VA.
During a visit from VA Office of Inspector General agents, Roszelle fabricated stories about her mother’s health and well-being, claiming she was living with her, seeing a doctor regularly, and was mobile.
As a result of this fraudulent scheme, Roszelle illegally obtained $338,364.66 in VA benefits.
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