Noteboom The Law Firm

Miami VA Employee Caught Selling Patient Identifications

According to an article in The Miami Herald, Tarakesha Kendrick, an employee at the Miami Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), was caught stealing and selling the personal identifications of U.S. veterans who received healthcare at the center.

Kendrick worked in the Miami VA medical center’s Travel Benefits Section, which “reimburses disabled veterans for travel expenses related to their medical treatment.” Kendrick’s responsibilities gave her access to patients’ personal identification information, such as: 

• ·        names;
• ·        addresses;
• ·        birthdates; and
• ·        Social Security numbers.

Kendrick was supplying that information to an outsider for a price. The outsider was eventually arrested following multiple complaints from veterans to the VA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) reporting identity thefts as well as credit card accounts being opened in their name with Citibank.

When the suspect was arrested, he said he had a contact inside the Miami VA., which led to an undercover agent approaching Kendrick and lining up the purchase of 6 VA identities for $180 and a subsequent 16 more identities for another $120. The entire deal was captured on audio and video surveillance. Kendrick was eventually federally charged with aggravated identity theft and unlawfully selling personal information of at least 22 veterans.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.