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2 Receive Prison For Stealing From, Defrauding VA

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TBO.com

Published: June 12, 2008

TAMPA - Federal judges this week sentenced two people to prison for either stealing from or defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The cases of Frank M. Persicano, of St. Petersburg, and Catherine Rodriguez, of Tampa, are unrelated, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Persicano, 63, was sentenced today to serve 41 months in prison after he pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to theft of government funds, mail fraud and making a false statement to the VA.

He concealed his income and employment status from the Department of Veterans Affairs and fraudulently received more than $70,000 in disability benefits, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez, 37, was sentenced Monday to six months in prison after investigators said she stole more than $30,000 from the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital canteen. Rodriguez, who was manager of the store, also falsified cash register records and other receipts, prosecutors said.

Along with the prison terms, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich ordered Persicano to pay $72,225 in restitution to the VA and U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore ordered Rodriguez to pay back $30,000.

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