News Release US Attorney's Office-Omaha
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that an Indictment was unsealed on December 14, 2021, which charges Steven M. Woodall, age 42, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, with theft of government funds.
The Indictment alleges that Woodall stole money from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services, through false claims that he was suffering from greater visual impairment than was actually the case. If convicted, Woodall would potentially face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release after he completed any prison sentence.
An Indictment is a charging document that contains one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“By defrauding Federal programs, a beneficiary exploits the systems dedicated to serving the public and steals taxpayer money,” said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “OIG and our law enforcement partners are committed to pursuing individuals, including conniving beneficiaries, who attempt to undermine the integrity of HHS programs.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General; the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.