The former spouse of a deceased U.S. Army veteran has pleaded guilty to fraud for improperly claiming military benefits, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Miranda Rachel Briggs, also known as "Miranda Rachel Fisher," 34, from Rincon, Georgia, admitted guilt to wire fraud charges. This plea could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years and significant financial penalties and restitution.
"Programs that financially benefit surviving family members of deceased veterans are designed to provide a safety net to those survivors," stated Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. "This guilty plea demonstrates the tenacity of investigators and prosecutors in dismantling this scheme."
The fraudulent activities began in November 2015 when Briggs married G.B., a U.S. Army veteran, while retaining her maiden name "Fisher." The couple divorced less than a year later, and two weeks after the divorce was finalized, G.B.'s request to remove Briggs as a beneficiary was approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
In January 2018, Briggs filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, affirming her divorce from G.B. Shortly after G.B.'s death two weeks later, she falsely claimed VA benefits as his surviving spouse. By April 2018, she had applied for additional benefits under false pretenses.
Briggs received approximately $49,000 for medical care and around $80,000 through the VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Program due to these claims.
After initially being denied survivor benefits by the VA, Briggs submitted further documentation asserting that she remained married to G.B. until his death in 2018. This led to her receiving benefits unjustly.
She legally changed her name from Miranda Rachel Fisher to Miranda Rachel Briggs via Chatham County Superior Court and was appointed administrator of G.B.'s estate by claiming she was his surviving spouse in Chatham County Probate Court in April 2021.
However, in March 2023, Chatham County Probate Court removed her as administrator upon discovering her divorce status at the time of G.B.'s death.
U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood will schedule sentencing following a pre-sentence investigation conducted by U.S. Probation Services.
"This guilty plea holds the defendant accountable for defrauding vital VA programs that provide monetary benefits for survivors of service members and veterans," said David Spilker, Special Agent in Charge with the VA OIG Southeast Field Office. "The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out fraudulent activity and seek prosecution against those who would compromise the integrity of VA’s programs and services."
The investigation was carried out by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Z. Spitulnik and Patricia G. Rhodes.